Abdominal wall competence in transverse abdominal island flap operations.

This study critically evaluates the abdominal wall in 82 patients following breast and chest wall reconstruction using the transverse abdominal island flap operation. Experience with these patients led to an awareness of the important muscle and ligamentous structures in the anterior abdominal wall. An operative procedure is presented for selective harvesting of the transverse abdominal island flap in a manner that preserves viability of the flap and at the same time reestablishes abdominal competence.