Inclusion of continuous tissue oximetry in the postoperative monitoring protocol of microsurgical breast reconstruction is associated with significantly improved salvage rates and fewer flap losses. Furthermore, learning curve assessment demonstrates that use of tissue oximetry can decrease the rate of reexploration over time.
The postoperative paradigm for microsurgical flaps has historically required intensive unit monitoring. Using tissue oximetry, a fast-track pathway can reduce time spent in an intensive monitoring setting from 24 to 15 hours with significant cost savings and minimal risk of missing a failing free flap.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.