Longitudinal Outcomes of Abdominoperineal Resection Reconstruction: A Single-center Retrospective Review

Background:. Reconstruction after abdominoperineal resection (APR) typically utilizes primary closure, locoregional myocutaneous flaps (gracilis or vertical rectus myocutaneous [VRAM]), or omental flaps. Although flap coverage is considered superior to primary closure, no specific flap is preferred,...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Zachary Gala, MD, Mehdi S. Lemdani, BA, Jane N. Ewing, BS, J. Reed McGraw, BA, Dustin T. Crystal, MD, Ellen Niu, BA, Irfan A. Rhemtulla, MD, MS, Robyn B. Broach, PhD, Najjia N. Mahmoud, MD, Stephen J. Kovach, MD
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer 2025-04-01
Series:Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Global Open
Online Access:http://journals.lww.com/prsgo/fulltext/10.1097/GOX.0000000000006738
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849311317101379584
author Zachary Gala, MD
Mehdi S. Lemdani, BA
Jane N. Ewing, BS
J. Reed McGraw, BA
Dustin T. Crystal, MD
Ellen Niu, BA
Irfan A. Rhemtulla, MD, MS
Robyn B. Broach, PhD
Najjia N. Mahmoud, MD
Stephen J. Kovach, MD
author_facet Zachary Gala, MD
Mehdi S. Lemdani, BA
Jane N. Ewing, BS
J. Reed McGraw, BA
Dustin T. Crystal, MD
Ellen Niu, BA
Irfan A. Rhemtulla, MD, MS
Robyn B. Broach, PhD
Najjia N. Mahmoud, MD
Stephen J. Kovach, MD
author_sort Zachary Gala, MD
collection DOAJ
description Background:. Reconstruction after abdominoperineal resection (APR) typically utilizes primary closure, locoregional myocutaneous flaps (gracilis or vertical rectus myocutaneous [VRAM]), or omental flaps. Although flap coverage is considered superior to primary closure, no specific flap is preferred, and reconstructive complications can occur in 20%–50% patients. The purpose of this study was to compare outcomes of perineal reconstruction with VRAM, gracilis, and omental flaps. Methods:. A single-institution retrospective cohort review was performed on all adult patients who underwent APR defect reconstruction with VRAM, gracilis, or omental flaps by the plastic surgery service between 2014 and 2023. Demographic, operative, and outcomes-associated variables were noted (surgical site infection, nonhealing wounds, flap necrosis/failure, need for additional procedures/operations, etc.). Results:. A total of 80 patients were identified, 11 diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease (1 Crohn disease and 10 ulcerative colitis), and 58 diagnosed with colorectal cancer. Flap reconstruction was as follows: 24 VRAM, 49 gracilis, 7 omental. Mean follow-up was 34.9 months (1.56 wk, 9.12 y). Enterocutaneous fistula formation was significantly more likely in VRAM versus gracilis flaps (gracilis odds ratio: 0.11, P = 0.02), when adjusted for neoadjuvant chemoradiation. Overall complication rate was 72.5% of patients, of whom 45% required procedural intervention. Conclusions:. Perineal reconstruction after APR can be achieved by various methods. Although the literature has shown flap closure to be more efficacious, differences in overall postoperative complication rate across flap type are minimal. Alternatives to VRAM reconstruction should be considered in patients predisposed to fistula formation.
format Article
id doaj-art-88b5aba388e14e97a8441ed2ea8aa590
institution Kabale University
issn 2169-7574
language English
publishDate 2025-04-01
publisher Wolters Kluwer
record_format Article
series Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Global Open
spelling doaj-art-88b5aba388e14e97a8441ed2ea8aa5902025-08-20T03:53:27ZengWolters KluwerPlastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Global Open2169-75742025-04-01134e673810.1097/GOX.0000000000006738202504000-00075Longitudinal Outcomes of Abdominoperineal Resection Reconstruction: A Single-center Retrospective ReviewZachary Gala, MD0Mehdi S. Lemdani, BA1Jane N. Ewing, BS2J. Reed McGraw, BA3Dustin T. Crystal, MD4Ellen Niu, BA5Irfan A. Rhemtulla, MD, MS6Robyn B. Broach, PhD7Najjia N. Mahmoud, MD8Stephen J. Kovach, MD9From the * Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PAFrom the * Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PAFrom the * Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PAFrom the * Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PAFrom the * Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PAFrom the * Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PAFrom the * Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PAFrom the * Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA‡ Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA.From the * Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PABackground:. Reconstruction after abdominoperineal resection (APR) typically utilizes primary closure, locoregional myocutaneous flaps (gracilis or vertical rectus myocutaneous [VRAM]), or omental flaps. Although flap coverage is considered superior to primary closure, no specific flap is preferred, and reconstructive complications can occur in 20%–50% patients. The purpose of this study was to compare outcomes of perineal reconstruction with VRAM, gracilis, and omental flaps. Methods:. A single-institution retrospective cohort review was performed on all adult patients who underwent APR defect reconstruction with VRAM, gracilis, or omental flaps by the plastic surgery service between 2014 and 2023. Demographic, operative, and outcomes-associated variables were noted (surgical site infection, nonhealing wounds, flap necrosis/failure, need for additional procedures/operations, etc.). Results:. A total of 80 patients were identified, 11 diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease (1 Crohn disease and 10 ulcerative colitis), and 58 diagnosed with colorectal cancer. Flap reconstruction was as follows: 24 VRAM, 49 gracilis, 7 omental. Mean follow-up was 34.9 months (1.56 wk, 9.12 y). Enterocutaneous fistula formation was significantly more likely in VRAM versus gracilis flaps (gracilis odds ratio: 0.11, P = 0.02), when adjusted for neoadjuvant chemoradiation. Overall complication rate was 72.5% of patients, of whom 45% required procedural intervention. Conclusions:. Perineal reconstruction after APR can be achieved by various methods. Although the literature has shown flap closure to be more efficacious, differences in overall postoperative complication rate across flap type are minimal. Alternatives to VRAM reconstruction should be considered in patients predisposed to fistula formation.http://journals.lww.com/prsgo/fulltext/10.1097/GOX.0000000000006738
spellingShingle Zachary Gala, MD
Mehdi S. Lemdani, BA
Jane N. Ewing, BS
J. Reed McGraw, BA
Dustin T. Crystal, MD
Ellen Niu, BA
Irfan A. Rhemtulla, MD, MS
Robyn B. Broach, PhD
Najjia N. Mahmoud, MD
Stephen J. Kovach, MD
Longitudinal Outcomes of Abdominoperineal Resection Reconstruction: A Single-center Retrospective Review
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Global Open
title Longitudinal Outcomes of Abdominoperineal Resection Reconstruction: A Single-center Retrospective Review
title_full Longitudinal Outcomes of Abdominoperineal Resection Reconstruction: A Single-center Retrospective Review
title_fullStr Longitudinal Outcomes of Abdominoperineal Resection Reconstruction: A Single-center Retrospective Review
title_full_unstemmed Longitudinal Outcomes of Abdominoperineal Resection Reconstruction: A Single-center Retrospective Review
title_short Longitudinal Outcomes of Abdominoperineal Resection Reconstruction: A Single-center Retrospective Review
title_sort longitudinal outcomes of abdominoperineal resection reconstruction a single center retrospective review
url http://journals.lww.com/prsgo/fulltext/10.1097/GOX.0000000000006738
work_keys_str_mv AT zacharygalamd longitudinaloutcomesofabdominoperinealresectionreconstructionasinglecenterretrospectivereview
AT mehdislemdaniba longitudinaloutcomesofabdominoperinealresectionreconstructionasinglecenterretrospectivereview
AT janenewingbs longitudinaloutcomesofabdominoperinealresectionreconstructionasinglecenterretrospectivereview
AT jreedmcgrawba longitudinaloutcomesofabdominoperinealresectionreconstructionasinglecenterretrospectivereview
AT dustintcrystalmd longitudinaloutcomesofabdominoperinealresectionreconstructionasinglecenterretrospectivereview
AT ellenniuba longitudinaloutcomesofabdominoperinealresectionreconstructionasinglecenterretrospectivereview
AT irfanarhemtullamdms longitudinaloutcomesofabdominoperinealresectionreconstructionasinglecenterretrospectivereview
AT robynbbroachphd longitudinaloutcomesofabdominoperinealresectionreconstructionasinglecenterretrospectivereview
AT najjianmahmoudmd longitudinaloutcomesofabdominoperinealresectionreconstructionasinglecenterretrospectivereview
AT stephenjkovachmd longitudinaloutcomesofabdominoperinealresectionreconstructionasinglecenterretrospectivereview