Reliability of zone IV in the deep inferior epigastric perforator flap: a single center's experience with 74 cases.

From March 2000 to June 2002, 74 deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flaps were performed in 73 female patients for oncological post-mastectomy breast reconstruction in Chang Gung Memorial Hospital. The mean age was 44.2 years and mean body weight was 56.6 kg. Twenty-five breast reconstructions were immediate and 49 were delayed. The average size of the flap was 30.1x12.0 cm and the mean number of perforators was 2.2. The average weight of the harvested flap was 595 g and 85.6% (mean: 509 g) of the flap was used for shaping the new breast mound. Zone IV was not discarded, except in one case. Total flap failure and donor site morbidity was not encountered. Only one flap was revised due to venous congestion (1.4%) and successfully salvaged. Partial flap loss occurred in two patients (2.7%). Fat necrosis was detected in 10 cases (13.5%) and sizes ranged from 2x2 to 4x5 cm. The numbers of perforators and the percentage of the used flap weight/total flap weight were not related to the complications. The free DIEP flap and inclusion of zone IV is a reliable and valuable method of breast reconstruction and provides superior aesthetic outcomes.