An evolution of communication in postoperative free flap monitoring: Using a smartphone and mobile messenger application

Summary: For more precise and rapid notification of free flap status between staff members after surgery, the authors used a smartphone and mobile messenger application including multimedia during the initial postoperative period and analyzed the influence of this method for the re-exploration time and survival rate of the flap before and after use. From April of 2010 to September of 2011, 123 consecutive free flaps were reviewed. The authors increased the flap survival rate from 96.2 to 100 percent and increased the threatened flap salvage rate from 50 to 100 percent with this method. The time interval between the first notification of flap compromise and the start of re-exploration was significantly shortened (4.0 versus 1.4 hours). This method not only provided better communication and comprehensive information but also allowed early diagnosis of flap compromise to be actualized at early re-exploration, ultimately increasing flap survival.