OBJECTIVETo verify the value of retrograde flow of Internal Mammary Artery (IMA) used as one of the supplying arteries and to develop a new method of applying IMA in breast reconstruction.

METHODSDuring breast reconstruction with free bilateral transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous (TRAM) flap, the pressures and velocities of the two ends (proximal and distal) of internal mammary artery as well as the according perfusion unit (PU) of TRAM were measured in two patients who suffered from mammectomy because of carcinoma.

RESULTSThe pressure at distal end was 66 or/and 58 mmHg, the pressure at proximal end was 88 or/and 75 mmHg, the former is 75%-77% of the later. The immediate rate of blood flow of distal anastomotic stoma was 74 or/and 52 ml/min, that of proximal was 94 or/and 70 ml/min, the former is 74%-78% of the later after anastomosed to the two sides of deep inferior epigastric arteries (DIEA) separately. Under condition that both ends (proximal and distal) of IMA contributing as the supplying blood vessels simultaneously, the PU of TRAM was the best. The rates of blood flow at the two anastomotic stomas are similar to each other in late stage (evaluated at the fifth year follow-up).

CONCLUSIONThe distal end of internal mammary artery can supply blood flow in a considerable level, similar with the proximal end.