Port retrieval for salvage of tissue expansion in case of lost or malfunctioning port

Abstract

Tissue expansion though a promising modality of reconstructive surgery is fraught with many complications. In addition to expander-related complications, subcutaneous port-related mishaps during tissue expansion, though infrequent, can result in procedure failures. We are reporting two patients with port-related complications. In one patient, there was failure to localise the port and the other had a leaking port. Both the expanders were salvaged by retrieving the ports. In the former, as the port was competent, it was simply exteriorised. But in the later case, the connecting tube was retrieved and the incompetent port was replaced with a Luer lock external port. Both the cases were successfully salvaged without any further complications. Expansions were completed and requisite reconstructive end points were achieved.

Keywords

• Port complications; port retrieval; tissue expansion