Quilting suture in the donor site of the transverse rectus abdominis musculocutaneous flap in breast reconstruction.

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of quilting suture (placement of stitches between the superficial fascia in the supraumbilical remaining flap and the musculoaponeurotic layer of the anterior abdominal wall) at the donor site of the transverse rectus abdominis musculocutaneous flap in breast reconstruction.

Methods: There is a theory that the use of quilting suture, during the closure of the donor site with the abdominal flap, causes collapse of the dead space and enables the flap to rest, thus diminishing factors that may interfere in its adherence and help to reduce complications. Between January 2004 and March 2005, we performed 30 breast reconstructions using a unipedicled transverse rectus abdominis musculocutaneous flap.