Perforator vessel anatomy of the papilla umbilicalis: topography and importance for reconstructive abdominal wall surgery.

Purpose: Separation of midline abdominal wall components or other procedures involving the papilla umbilicalis within the context of abdominal wall reconstruction can significantly affect vasculature of the umbilicus. Adjusting dissection to the vascular anatomy of that region may evade such complications. For this purpose, an anatomic microdissection study was performed, focusing on the vascular architecture of the papilla umbilicalis in the midst of the stratigraphical anatomy of the midline abdominal wall.