Perfusion monitoring

Full-thickness eyelid flaps and free skin grafts are frequently used in reconstructive surgery. Perfusion monitoring has recently been implemented in several reconstructive surgical procedures, however, perfusion monitoring of a rotational eyelid flap and free skin grafts has not been described previously. In two recently published scientific articles the authors used state-of-the-art laser speckle contrast imaging to monitor perfusion in the periocular area.

Perfusion in the flap decreased by only 50% during surgery and was almost completely restored 5 weeks later at flap division (91%). The excellent surgical outcome in the present case is deemed to be the result of satisfactory blood perfusion of the flap. Furthermore, all free skin grafts were reperfused gradually during healing with 46% perfusion in the central part of the graft at week 1 and 79% at week 3 week. Grafts were completely reperfused after 7 weeks and no difference was observed in the rate of reperfusion between the center and periphery of the grafts.

Berggren JV, Sheikh R, Hult J, Engelsberg K, Malmsjö M. Laser Speckle Contrast Imaging of a Rotational Full-Thickness Lower Eyelid Flap Shows Satisfactory Blood Perfusion. Ophthalmic Plast Reconstr Surg. 2020.

Berggren J, Castelo N, Tenland K, Dahlstrand U, Engelsberg K, Lindstedt S, Sheikh R, Malmsjö M. Reperfusion of Free Full-Thickness Skin Grafts in Periocular Reconstructive Surgery Monitored Using Laser Speckle Contrast Imaging. Ophthalmic Plast Reconstr Surg. 2020