British Virgin Islands - Island Sun Newspaper

February 23 2002

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The very first microvascular free tissue transfer was performed here in the BVI at the Bougainvillea Clinic during the recently held Plastic Surgery Workshop. Pictured here are Drs. Coville, Guelinckx and Sinsel during the operation

First Microvascular Free Tissue Transfer performed in BVI at Bougainvillea Clinic

The very first microvascular free tissue transfer was performed here in the BVI at the Bougainvillea Clinic during the recently held Plastic Surgery Workshop. Dr. Fred Coville of the Bougainvillea Clinic enlisted the help and guidance of world-renowned microsurgeon Dr. Paul Guelinckx and his assistant Dr. Nadia Sinsel to perform this very complicated and intricate procedure.

The operation includes taking of muscle with its artery and vein that supplies it, from its normal anatomic location and transferring it to a distant part of the body. To keep the muscle alive it must be connected to the new location’s arteries and veins. This is all done microscopically Dr. Coville said.

“This is a very tricky procedure and things can go wrong,” he pointed out.
These free tissue transfers are used for various types of reconstructive surgery. In some cases it can prevent an amputation, as was this case. Other times it may be used to bring in bone, nerves and even to fashion a new breast after mastectomy.

Although I do a large amount of microsurgery here at the Bougainvillea Clinic and have done many free flaps back in the USA, I reserve my microsurgery to emergency cases such as finger amputations,” Dr. Coville told The Island Sun.

He noted that Drs. Guelinckx and Sinsel helped him on a very difficult case and saved the foot of a Virgin Gorda patient from possible amputation. “I have not done any elective microsurgery cases because you need a very experienced team such as the visiting Doctors Guelinckx and Sinsel .”
“We are very fortunate to have forged many professional relationships with doctors around the world.