Principles of Microsurgery

Free tissue transfer is a common reconstructive surgical technique used to treat a wide variety of defects and injuries. Distant donor tissue, which can include bone, muscle, skin, and fascia, is recruited in order to restore both form and function. Inherent to these procedures are the challenges involved in revascularizing donor tissue as well as monitoring flap viability during the operative and postoperative period. This chapter details the process that microsurgeons go through as they assess patients and their need for free tissue transfer in addition to describing operative techniques and equipment used in microsurgery for both vessel anastomosis and free flap monitoring.