ABSTRACT
The basic principles of reconstructive microvascular surgery can help establish a rationale for postanesthesia care. All such surgery involves transferring units of tissue as surgical flaps. The term flap refers to any tissue that is transferred with preservation of the blood supply. Originally, actual flaps of skin were elevated while still attached at the base and rotated into an adjacent area of tissue need. Over time, however, the definition has broadened. Throughout the body are units of muscle, skin, fat, bone, and visceral tissue that are supplied by a single vascular supply and can be isolated and moved to another location as a flap.
