Evaluation of dermal and subdermal microcirculation in free flaps with contrast harmonic ultrasound and indocyanine-green fluorescence video angiography

Purpose: Contrast harmonic ultrasound (CHI) with a linear transducer is a new diagnostic approach that allows dynamic and quantitative flow detection of tissue perfusion in microsurgery. The aim of the study was the evaluation of perfusion of the dermal and subdermal layers of microvascular tissue transplants with CHI in comparison to ICG-fluorescence angiography. Materials and methods: In a prospective clinical study Indocyanine-Green Fluorescence Video Angiography and Contrast Enhanced High Resolution Ultrasound (5–10MHz; linear transducer; Logiq 9; GE) were used for evaluation of the microcirculation in 10 tr…