BACKGROUND: Free flap reconstruction was first introduced in 1959 and has since been used for reconstruction of various defects in the head and neck. It has been shown to be the most reliable and efficient way of restoring tissue in the head and neck region secondary to surgical or traumatic defects. It has allowed single stage reconstruction of even complex defects with high flap viability rates. Here in the Philippine setting, free flaps have not been the reconstructive option of choice. It is viewed as a special option for selective cases not amenable to pedicled reconstruction. OBJECTIVE: To describe the experience of one microvascular team in head and neck reconstruction using free flaps from 1996 to March 2004. DESIGN AND SETTING: Retrospective chart review of all patients who underwent free flap reconstruction of head and neck defects from 1996 to March 2004 at six tertiary hospitals in Manila. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Atotal of 69 patients who underwent 71 free-flap reconstructions of the head and neck for various pathologies and with a range of bony and soft tissue defects from 1996 to March 2004 were included in the study. All free flap reconstructions were done by only one microvascular team. The success and viability of free tissue transfer, length of hospital stay, length of operation, complications and morbidities encountered and functional outcome based on length of time to removal of the nasogastric tube and decannulation were reviewed. RESULTS: Of the 71 free flap reconstructions that were performed, 64 flaps were viable leading to an overall success rate of 90 percent. The first 36 cases had a success rate of 86 percent while the subsequent 35 cases had a success rate of 94 percent. Average length of hospital stay was 24 days and the average length of operation was 13 hours 40 minutes. There were 6 mortalities secondary to medical problems and 7 patients had major surgical complications. Twenty-one patients (29 percent) did not have any complication post-operation. Average time post-operation to decannulation was 14 days while return to oral diet was noted at 17 days post-operation. There were 8 patients who were discharged with either a nasogastric tube or percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy. The results are at par with the review of literature reviewed. CONCLUSIONS: The success of the use of free flaps in head and neck reconstruction was demonstrated in this series. There were minimal complications noted. All patients were decannulated with majority able to return to an oral diet. (Author)
HEAD NECK

DESIGN: Surgical Innovation SETTING: Academic Tertiary Hospital OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to describe an alternative technique using a condylar autograft in conjunction with a fibular free flap in mandibular reconstruction and to prospectively assess the functional outcome in terms of inter-incisal distance, lateral excursion, maximum protrusion, occlusion, type of diet, speech and mandibular contour. METHODOLOGY: All patients who underwent segmental mandibulectomy with fibular free flap reconstruction done by one microvascular team from 1997 to 2004 were reviewed. From a total of 38 patients who underwent fibular free flap reconstruction, 7 patients who had condylar disarticulation, rigid fixation using miniplates to the fibula then replacement into the glenoid fossa were identified but 2 patients were excluded due to poor follow-up. Functional outcomes in terms of inter-incisal distance, lateral excursion, maximum protrusion, occlusion, type of diet, speech and mandibular contour were assessed post-operatively. Presence of tumor recurrence was also noted. RESULTS: Five patients were included in the study. The inter-incisal distance was noted to be 31 mm (+/- 12.5) with maximum protrusion of 1.4 mm (+/- 0.9). For those with right hemimandibulectomy (n=2), the right lateral excursion was 2.34mm (+/- 3.3) and left lateral excursion was 1.66mm (+/- 2.35). For those with left hemimandibulectomy (n=3), the right lateral excursion was 8.17m (+/- 2.25) and left lateral excursion was 3 mm (+/- 2.65). Four out of 5 patients had normal diet with excellent intelligible speech. The same 4 patients had good mandibular contour with a Class I occlusion as assessed by a dentist. The only patient with fair outcome had a mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the floor of the mouth with extensive soft tissue reconstruction aside from the bony reconstruction. No patient had tumor recurrence. CONCLUSION: The use of condylar autograft in conjunction with fibular free flaps holds promise as a way to restore temporomandibular function in mandibular reconstruction. (Author)
NONE

Objective:To report a case of fractured tracheotomy tube ingestion in a pediatric patient, discussing the clinical presentation, complications and management of tracheobronchial tree versus upper digestive tract foreign bodies. Methods: Design: Case Report Setting: Tertiary Private Hospital Patient: One Result: A 4-year-old male child with unusual hypersensitivity to routine tracheotomy suctioning was discovered to have a fractured tracheotomy tube. Emergency radiographs localized the cannula in the abdomen and bronchoscopy was deferred. The foreign body was eventually passed out after four days. Conclusion: Due diligence in diagnostics prior to bronchoscopy led to the avoidance of an unnecessary and sometimes complicated procedure. In developing countries with poor access to health care, the importance of regular tracheotomy follow-ups and periodic replacement cannot be overemphasized. A search of the English literature using Pubmed and Ovid search engines with keywords tracheostomy, foreign bodies and pediatrics confirms that this is the first reported accidental ingestion of a fractured tracheotomy tube in a pediatric patient.

OBJECTIVE: To present a rare case of post-traumatic recurrent epistaxis in an elderly woman.
METHODS:
  Design: Case Report
  Setting: Tertiary Private Hospital
  Patient: One
RESULT: A  93-year-old  woman  had  multiple  admissions  for  recurrent  life  threatening  nose-bleeding  that  was  not  controlled  until  a  post-traumatic pseudoaneurysm  of  the  infraorbital artery was diagnosed and embolized.
CONCLUSION: The diagnosis of pseudoaneurysm should be considered in such cases, and treatment involving surgeons and interventional radiologists should be initiated to minimize morbidity and mortality.

Human ; Female ; Aged 80 And Over ; Epistaxis ; Aneurysm, False ; Maxillary Artery