Cephalic vein: Saviour in the microsurgical reconstruction of breast and head and neck cancers
A 44-year-old female patient had cancer of the left breast and underwent modified radical mastectomy. The patient had a lower abdominal midline vertical scar [] and hence only a right hemi-TRAM was planned. The DIEV had 2 venae comitantes and one was very small compared with the other. The IMV was also very small on the right side. Hence, the small venae comitantes was anastomosed to the IMV and the larger one was anastomosed to the cephalic vein [Figure and ]. Though the SIEV was harvested, it was not distended and both the venous anastomosis done was adequate for drainage. The patient also had an incisional hernia for which a mesh repair was done.