Recipient Vessel Selection in Reconstructive Surgery

Reconstructive surgery has made significant progress since the early 1960s, with the introduction of axial vessels as a fundamental concept. The initial generations of axial pattern flaps relied on well-known vessels described in anatomy books, such as the radial artery for the radial forearm flap and the thoracic vessel for the latissimus dorsi flap. At that time, harvesting these flaps was considered revolutionary but is now relatively simple due to their consistent anatomy. Further exploration of vascular structures is typically recommended only if the vessel has been damaged by previous surgery or trauma.