Reconstruction of the Pelvic Floor After Total Pelvic Exenteration Using the TMG Flap

Total pelvic exenteration (TPE) is a rare operation, which is the only possible curative intervention to treat central residual or recurrent tumors of the vulvar, vaginal, cervical, or uterine malignancies after initial surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Several options for pelvic floor and vaginal reconstruction have been described. The transverse musculocutaneous gracilis (TMG) flap has been introduced for breast reconstruction as a free flap. The investigators adopted the pedicled TMG flap for reconstruction after TPE.

Between November 2011 and February 2014, twelve patients underwent TPE and reconstruction with unilateral (6 patients) or bilateral (6 patients) pedicled TMG flaps. Five patients had vaginal reconstruction with bilateral TMG flaps. The investigators describe the operative procedure and the outcome of the operation in these patients.