Free Flap Reconstruction in the Head and Neck Regions: A Review of 40 Cases.
- Author:
Chung Hwan BAEK
1
;
Young Ik SON
;
Sung Min KIM
;
Kwang Chol CHU
;
Bom Joon HA
;
Young Dong KIM
Author Information
1. Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, Korea. chbaek@smc.samsung.co.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Free flap;
Head and neck reconstruction
- MeSH:
Fistula;
Free Tissue Flaps*;
Head*;
Humans;
Incidence;
Neck*;
Postoperative Complications;
Radiotherapy;
Tissue Donors;
Venous Thrombosis;
Wounds and Injuries
- From:Korean Journal of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
1999;42(7):876-881
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: With the advent of free flap reconstruction techniques, several free flaps were used for a variety of head and neck defects. The objective of this study was to review our experience during 3-year period in performing 40 microvascular free flaps for head and neck defects. Materials and Method: A review of 40 microvascular free flaps performed in 38 patients between April 1995 through August 1998 was undertaken. Patient's age, sex, stage of disease, types of free flaps, short-term postoperative outcome including the flap success rate, postoperative complications, effect of preoperative irradiation on the development of the wound complications such as fistula were evaluated. RESULTS: 36 (90%) of 40 free flaps were successful with 4 failures resulting from 3 venous thromboses and 1 infection. Emergent reexploration was done in 2 patients, none of whom were successfully salvaged. The postoperative surgical complications including donor site complications and medical complications were seen in 17 flaps (47%) and in 8 flaps (22%), with multiple complications seen in several patients. The preoperative radiotherapy did not affect the incidence of the postoperative surgical complications (p=0.273). CONCLUSION: In review of our experience, we believe that free flap reconstruction in head and neck regions has become a useful procedure with acceptable outcome and complication rates and has surpassed conventional techniques cosmetically and functionally.
