Extensive abdominal surgery and scar does not absolutely contraindicate bilateral flap harvest from the abdomen: A case report

INTRODUCTION: This case reports a female patient with a history of multiple laparotomies including stoma formations and reversals, who underwent successful bilateral abdominal flap based breast reconstruction. It highlights that even complex and repeated abdominal surgery is not an absolute contraindication to this procedure. PRESENTATION OF CASE: A 52-year-old female with a history of bilateral mastectomy and implant-based breast reconstruction presented with bilateral capsular contracture, wanting removal and alternative breast reconstruction. Her history of ulcerative colitis and multiple complex and extensive abdominal surgeries initially seemed to preclude bilateral abdominal flap harvest and the patient was referred on for another opinion. CT-angiography after the subsequent opinion identified adequate deep inferior epigastric artery perforators and successful bilateral abdomen-based flap reconstruction was performed. DISCUSSION: This is the first case report of successful bilateral abdomen-based flap harvest in a patient with 6 previous laparotomies including stoma formations and reversals. CONCLUSION: Complex and extensive abdominal surgery is not an absolute contraindication to bilateral flap harvest from the abdomen. With accurate CT-angiography to guide pre-operative planning and meticulous surgery, safe flap harvest is possible.