[Anatomic study of perforator neurovascular bundles of the deep inferior epigastric perforator flap].

Objective: To investigate the anatomic characteristics of the perforator neurovascular bundles in the anterior abdominal wall for the anatomical basis of the sensate deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap.

Methods: Abdominal wall dissection was performed on 9 embalmed female cadavers (18 sides).

Results: Most of the deep inferior epigastric perforators emerged at the anterior sheath of the rectus. There were averaged 17.5 perforators on each side, with the diameter equal to or larger than 0.5 mm in 7.8 perforators. The number of skin perforators was the greatest in the supero-medial area. 56.2 percent of vascular perforators traveled with the sensory branches while 80.9 percent of larger perforators (> or = 0.5 mm in diameter) run with the sensory branches.

Conclusions: The lateral perforator neurovascular bundle was the first choice in the design of the sensate DIEP flap.