To summarize the clinical application value of color Doppler ultrasound (CDU) in the nursing observation of flap vascular circulation after free flap transplantation.

From September 2018 to November 2020, 18 patients with skin defect of limbs treated by free flap transplantation in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University were monitored by skin color, skin temperature, skin tension, capillary reaction time and CDU. When the vascular circulation disorder was found, the patients should be treated with volume expansion, rehydration, local massage of the flap, anticoagulation and microcirculation improvement. Positive drainage under the flap to prevent infection, combined with hyperbaric oxygen treatment, accurate and timely exploration of vascular crisis to avoid flap necrosis.

Postoperatively, CDU monitoring found that 2 cases had regional vascular circulation disorder, 1 case had complete embolization of the main vessels and perforators in the flap, the flap was thinned and changed to full thickness skin grafting, the deep tissue exposed area was healed by dressing change, and 1 case had incomplete embolization of the flap′s reflowing vein. After operation, the venous crisis was relieved and the flap survived completely.

Comprehensive observation is needed after free flap transplantation. Combined with four routine vascular circulation indexes, CDU monitoring of flap blood flow can provide more objective, accurate and detailed basis for vascular circulation status, and can accurately find the vascular circulation disorder after free flap transplantation in early stage, and understand the vascular flow status of the flap, so as to effectively avoid the continuous progress of vascular crisis, to avoid flap necrosis and improve the survival rate of flap.

Surgical flaps; Nursing care; Color Doppler; Vascular crisis