pedicle tram flap/abdominal buldge complication

[absintheminded]

Wondering how many woman suffering severe abdominal bulge/weakened stomach wall and severe digestive issue's years post pedicle tram flap? I am finally finding some admittance of this severe and debilitating side effect. Not many Dr's seem to want to associate it with the pedicle tram flap or acknowledge this very serious complication. Granted, in 2004 this was a relatively new surgery, we could not know all side effects. However, I seem to see this happening not just to me but to others and no one wants to discuss or find a fix. My left side of my abdoman has completely buldged out. This happend in 2011. My surgery was 2004. You can actually see the outline of my intestines. I went to ER thinking I had a severe hernia, possibly a blockage. The "Buldge" had increased greatly in size. Along with this came constipation and pain. It seems I am experiencing on going blockages in my intestines and colon. Without the strength of the rectus muscle my stomach has become so weak it cannot perform the contractions necessary, I beleive, to push the waste through my body. I swell with toxins. I notice it is at its worst when my toes swell from the toxins as well. I have to give up all fiber as I cannot digest it or break it down. I am forced to take laxitaves like milk of magnesia and suppository laxitives at least 2x a week or I develop horrific blockages which I fear can burst and become sepsis. A recent episode last week sent me to the ER where x-rays ordered to be sure blockage passed. It had but the inflammation, pain and gas are horrific. You cannot even touch my left side abdomin without pain. I am not able to eat fruit, vegetables, whole grains etc., I am losing vitamins and now adding ensure to my diet. They say the only possible thing they could do would be to find an abdominal wall specialist to try and tighten it, however I was warned that these surgeries are loaded with serious complications and tend to fail. I'm terrified I'm going to end up on a bag or something. My gastro doctor, primary, etc.,could not answer what was wrong with me...finally a plastic surgeon and my new oncologist says this is a side effect that is just beginning to show up in more and more woman. A warning to other woman, the bulge became it's largest after lifting heavy objects such as heavy grocery bags upstairs...it doesn't take much...you must NEVER lift anhything heavy again...yeah, like that's a possibilty...so, this is kind of a statement to throw out there on a serious side effect of the pedicle tram flap that certainly is being ignored in the medical community...and my question is, is there any hope? Will this neccesety of laxitives (I'm only 50) cause me to be dependent always. If the blockage does not pass can it burst and can I go sepsis? Thank you.


This discussion is related to pedicle tram flap complications.

[Sharon1116]

I too have had a tram flap reconstruction on the right side about 10 years ago and my stomach is huge, size 16 at the waist, and size 12 everywhere else. My stomach expands 3-4 inches after I eat, I have to lay down, I cannot walk or breathe easily.  I feel like an old lady.  I cannot work, I cannot bend over, etc. I went to the best Univ. of Miami hernia surgeon and he said from the CT scan of the stomach it was a "thickening of the stomach wall" not a hernia and that if he operated and inserted mesh to push down the bulge, it would cause more pain, told me to leave it alone.  Every day I cry and am in pain and complain to every doctor I see.  No one has suggestions or can fix my problem.  I also have IBS and have had all kinds of tests, colonscopy, CT scans of my stomach, and ultrasounds and no one can find anything wrong except the bulge and the thin and thickening of the stomach wall.  The last CT scan I had with contrast was to look and see if the main blood vessel going into the stomach was constricted or blocked from the large "load of bread on the right side" hernia I have (even though the Dr. says it's not a hernia, I can see the large loaf of bread when I lay on my back and lift my head.  I am single, no man wants to date me with my large pot belly and my pants fall below my belly and I can hardly walk after I eat.  I have tried to lose some weight (I'm 168 lbs and in my 60's) but to no avail.  My grandkids make fun of my tummy and I hate it but I'm so depressed and sad, cooking is my love but most of the food I cannot eat.  I have just started on a low-fodmap diet and am trying to do this but there is so much I cannot eat.  Can anyone help me????

[badtram]

Well this is 2017 and I have the exact same situation and symptoms as you do.  I asked the doctor for a DIEP flap and he bullied me into a tram flap.  THEY SHOULD BE OUTLAWED!!

[canthetram]

Look up Dr. George Denoto & Dr Ron Israeli and Tram Flap hernia repair. They are now published in The Atlas Of Abdominal Wall Reconstruction, Vol. 2, Chapter 21. They are also featured online. I had 3 hernias as result of bilateral Tram. In 2013, I was repaired by these surgeons. It's 2017, and it's holding strong. No regrets. Best decision I made. Please google both of them and contact their office. They are on LI, NY and work in tandem to repair Tram and DIEP women with bulges and hernias. You don't have to live with this, and there is hope for repair.

[canthetram]

Sorry for spell errors. I was repaired in May 2013* and it's still holding*
You don't have to live with this. I also have a FB group called TRAM/DIEP- Complications And Hope. It's 67 members and growing. A lot of good information and help to get you through this and repaired.

[glozzer]

I cant tell you how glad I am to find this website and to see that I am not the only one having such a problem following tram flap reconstruction.
I had a tram flap reconstruction in 1998 after 5 previous failed attempts with implants that infected or burst.  It was a nightmare from the off, what could go wrong did go wrong. After three days the abdonimal incision broke down and started oozing and it was then noticed that the sugeon had not put in a mesh, I then got an infection in the naval and at the breast area. I spent a month in hospital and ended up with one boob 3 cups sizes smaller than the other one (the reconstruction being the smaller).  After a month or so I noticed a lump in my stomach, so after waiting 2 more months went to see the surgeon who said I had a hernia and would need a mesh inserted. When i mentioned that the reconstructed boob was much smaller he stated "well you shouldn't have expected the body of an 18 year old" I was quite taken aback and he then said "we can always reduce the good boob, unless of course you like having large breasts!"  I was quite upset by this remark, and said that I had already had it reduced when I had my first reconstruction and was not going to have it done again.  In 2000 I had the mesh inserted but again 3 months later developed a large bulge I was told the mesh had broken down and would need another one put in. This was done in 2002 and yes it again broke down and the mesh ended up rolled up round my middle. After the second op the drain was taken out too soon and I developed fluid build up and had to go back to hospital every other day for 2 weeks to have it drained off.  In the end I was so depressed I just gave up going back.  I was in such a lot of pain and discomfort I went to a pain clinic,   Well 10 years down the line and things are really no better, the bulge has got much bigger and spread over most of my tummy and at times really painful with a stinging sensation as if the whole thing is going to burst.  It has affected my bowel movements and I get the most dreadful wind, (luckily I live on my own!!).  It is the pain which is the worst but I dont seem to get anywhere with the doctors who just dont seem to understand.  I have changed surgeries in the hope that a new doctor may be more sympathetic.  I am soooo cross with myself for going through this but I just wanted to look like myself again, is that wrong?  The surgeon who did the tram flap just did not care and I wish I had never met him, he was horrible to me. I understand that this op is not done anymore and I am glad for that. I am now seeing a counsellor as all this has had quite an effect on me.

[peach0621]

I also had a double tram flap done in 2004.  In 2009 I had repair of hernia and mesh from hip to hip and rib to rib b/c the lining of my stomach was so compromised and weakened. I just last weak 7/23/2012 had a small bowel obstruction surgery, and the "tacks" used to keep the mesh in place were removed as they were sharp and actually cut the surgeons glove.  I was not properly informed of all the possible complications or I would have just gotten the in plants!  This has been a living hell that never ends and I have been in pain almost every day since my original surgery!  This is barbaric and NO women should ever have it!
Debra L Peach
CT  

[peach0621]

I also had a double tram flap done in 2004.  In 2009 I had repair of hernia and mesh from hip to hip and rib to rib b/c the lining of my stomach was so compromised and weakened. I just last weak 7/23/2012 had a small bowel obstruction surgery, and the "tacks" used to keep the mesh in place were removed as they were sharp and actually cut the surgeons glove.  I was not properly informed of all the possible complications or I would have just gotten the in plants!  This has been a living hell that never ends and I have been in pain almost every day since my original surgery!  This is barbaric and NO women should ever have it!
Debra L Peach
CT  

[absintheminded]

It's a little hard to describe without a photo, however you can actually see the outline of my intestines on my left side. Oncologist and Plastic surgeon informed me of the trouble with intestinal blockages. Again I reiterate, I do not have a Hernia.

[absintheminded]

Thanks luebutterfly, I will search!