Breast Reconstruction with Superficial Inferior Epigastric Artery Flaps: A Prospective Comparison with TRAM and DIEP Flaps

Breast reconstruction using the lower abdominal free superficial inferior epigastric artery (SIEA) flap has the potential to virtually eliminate abdominal donor-site mor-bidity because the rectus abdominis fascia and muscle are not incised or excised. However, despite its advantages, the free SIEA flap for breast reconstruction is rarely used. A prospective study was conducted of the reliability and outcomes of the use of SIEA flaps for breast reconstruc-tion compared with transverse rectus abdominis muscu-locutaneous (TRAM) and deep inferior epigastric perfo-rator (DIEP) flaps. Breast reconstruction with an SIEA flap was attempted in 47 consecutive free autologous tis-sue breast reconstructions between August of 2001 and November of 2002. The average patient age was 49 years, and the average body mass index was 27 kg/m2. The SIE