Valsalva maneuver to identify dermal bleeders after paramedian flap elevation under local anesthesia

Abstract

The paramedian forehead flap (PFF) provides a reliable reconstruction option for complex nasal tip defects. The robust blood supply from a well perfused pedicle allows for reconstruction of large defects of the nasal tip for which simpler methods/techniques would provide inadequate coverage or result in inferior cosmesis. A well-designed PFF containing the supratrochlear artery inherently predisposes to small vessel bleeding from the pedicles cut edge. Due to the well perfused nature of the pedicle, there is an increased risk of post-operative bleeding. We describe a technique for better identifying bleeding points from the pedicle to optimise intra-operative haemostasis by performing the Valsalva maneuver using a syringe intraoperatively.