Reconstructive Surgery

With autologuous free flap transfer becoming more and more important in reconstructive surgery, it is probably important to consider ischemia reperfusion injury as a possible key factor that might influence a successful outcome of a reconstructive procedure. Although free flap reconstruction is generally triumphant in 90%-95% of the cases a small percentage of patients show signs of postoperative IRI. Sometimes this even results in partial or complete flap loss, which can be traumatic for the patient. Nevertheless, autologous tissue transfer is different from allogeneic tissue transplantation because the immunological reactions, which are in part amplified by IRI and ultimately promote acute and chronic rejection, do not occur. However, with a scientific foundation in tissue regeneration, transplantation and stem cell biology reconstructive transplantation is uniquely poised to make the next major advances in medicine. By replacing missing body parts like the face, hand and foot, reconstructive transplantation can transform patients’ lives in ways that could not have been imagined only recently. Ischemia and Reperfusion Injury in Reconstructive Transplantation: Barbara Kern and Robert Sucher

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Last date updated on September, 2024