A Pedicle-Lengthening Technique for Free Latissimus Dorsi Muscle Flaps: The 'Y-V-I' Principle

Guneren, Ethem/0000-0002-5981-7010; Demir, Ahmet/0000-0002-8820-3122 WOS: 000228608300005 PubMed: 15880296 This article describes a pedicle-lengthening procedure (the Y-V-I principle) that reverts a Y-shaped vascular structure into an I-shaped vascular structure, and its application to the latissimus dorsi muscle. If the Y-shaped vascular structure is divided proximal to the branching point and ligated, it becomes a V-shaped vascular structure. To obtain a linear I-shaped vascular structure, the V is opened, and the length of the vascular pedicle will become equal to the combined length of both limbs of the V. This report indicates that the latissimus dorsi flap may be transferred based on the circumflex scapular artery or the serratus branch.