• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• 제22권1호
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• pp.98-104
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• 2000

Expansion in the scope and technique of head and neck tumor resection during the past two decades has paralleled precise tumor localization with advanced radiographic imaging and the availability of microvascular free tissue transfer. Especially, the defect reconstruction utilizing free flap results in improvement of patient survival due to decrease of local recurrence by wide resection of cancer. The rectus abdominis free flap has been used widely in reconstruction of the breast and extremities. However, the report of cases on its applications in the head and neck, based on the deep inferior epigastric artery and vein, is rare. This flap is one of the most versatile soft-tissue flaps. The deep inferior epigastric artery and vein are long and large-diameter vessels that are ideal for microvascular anastomosis. The skin area that can be transferred is probably the largest of all flaps presently in use. The versatility of the donor site is due to the ability to transfer large areas of skin with various thickness and amounts of underlying muscle. This article is to report reconstruction of midface defects utilizing the rectus abdominis free flap in 2 patients with maxillary squamous cell carcinoma and discuss briefly considerations in flap design and orbital exenteration, and healing of irradiated recipient site by hyperbaric oxygen therapy with literature review.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제40권1호
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• pp.3-10
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• 2013

Autologous microvascular breast reconstruction is widely accepted as a key component of breast cancer treatment. There are two basic donor sites; the anterior abdominal wall and the thigh/buttock region. Each of these regions provides for a number of flaps that are successfully utilised in breast reconstruction. Refinement of surgical technique and the drive towards minimising donor site morbidity whilst maximising flap vascularity in breast reconstruction has seen an evolution towards perforator based flap reconstructions, however myocutaneous flaps are still commonly practiced. We review herein the current methods of autologous microvascular breast reconstruction.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• 제14권1호
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• pp.57-62
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• 2005

Microvascular anastomosis with suture technique is a basic skill but there are several problems such as stenosis, thrombosis and long operating time. Recently plastic surgeons have developed non-suturing mechanical coupling devices for microvascular anastomosis. The authors applied non-penetrating vascular clips (VCS clips) in the field of free flap surgery of head and neck area. Between August of 2004 and January of 2005, we performed 9 free flaps (16 vessels) using small-sized VCS clips. Four stay sutures were applied first and then VCS clips were placed between sutures about 1 mm apart. Vascular pedicle of free flap included the descending branch of lateral circumflex femoral vessel, thoracodorsal vessel, deep inferior epigastric vessel and cephalic vein. The recipient vessels were the superior thyroid artery, superficial temporal artery, internal jugular vein, external jugular vein, and superficial temporal vein. We performed 13 end-to-end (4 arteries and 9 veins) and 3 venous end-to-side anastomoses. No flap related complication occurred but we applied additional clips or sutures in two cases due to blood leakage after completion of anastomosis. Primary patency rates seemed to be good and more rapid anastomosis could be done than conventional suture technique. Advantages of VCS technique are high patency rate, low thrombogenecity and rapidity. Although the high cost of VCS instrument may be a problem, this clip could be applied safely in microvascular free tissue transfer.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• 제33권1호
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• pp.93-101
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• 2011

Reconstruction following a resection of malignant oral cavity tumors is one of the most difficult problems in recent oral oncology. The radial forearm free flap (RFFF) is a thin, pliable soft tissue flap with large-caliber vessels for microvascular anastomosis. Its additional advantages include consistent flap vascular anatomy, acceptable donor site morbidity and the ability to perform simultaneous flap harvest with a tumor resection. For a better understanding of RFFF as a routine reconstructive procedure in oral and maxillofacial surgery, the constant anatomical findings must be learned and memorized by young doctors during the special curriculum periods for the Korean national board of oral and maxillofacial surgery. This review article discusses the anatomical basis of RFFF in the Korean language.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제33권2호
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• pp.245-248
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• 2006

Besides gastric pull-up or colonic interposition, microvascular technique in esophageal reconstruction has been approved reliable methods. When free intestinal transfer is considered, jejunal free flap is commonly used. We treated the patient who had undergone reconstruction with a right colon interposition and suffered from inability of swallowing because of stricture and necrosis of the interposed flap. Although we have planned jejunal free transfer, we couldn't use jejunum due to adhesion by previous gastrojejunostomy and colon interposition. Salvage procedure with microvascualr free left colon flap was executed successfully. After 9 month follow-up, the patient was able to consume a normal diet.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제49권4호
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• pp.543-548
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• 2022

Microvascular reconstruction frequently requires anastomosis outside of the zone of injury for successful reconstruction. Multiple options exist for pedicle lengthening including vein grafts, arteriovenous loops, and arteriovenous bundle interposition grafts. The authors performed a systematic review of arteriovenous bundle interposition grafts to elucidate indications and outcomes of arteriovenous grafts in microvascular reconstruction. A systematic review of the literature was performed using targeted keywords. Data extraction was performed by two independent authors, and descriptive statistics were used to analyze pooled data. Forty-four patients underwent pedicle lengthening with an arteriovenous graft from the descending branch of the lateral circumflex femoral artery. Most common indications for flap reconstruction were malignancy (n = 12), trauma (n = 7), and diabetic ulceration (n = 4). The most commonly used free flap was the anterolateral thigh flap (n = 18). There were five complications, with one resulting in flap loss. Arteriovenous bundle interposition grafts are a viable option for pedicle lengthening when free flap distant anastomosis is required. The descending branch of the lateral circumflex femoral artery may be used for a variety of defects and can be used in conjunction with fasciocutaneous, osteocutaneous, muscle, and chimeric free flaps.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제49권5호
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• pp.683-688
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• 2022

Background Reconstruction of large soft tissue defects of the lower extremity often requires the use of free flaps. The main limiting factor and potential for complications lie in the selection of proper donor and recipient vessels for microvascular anastomosis. While the superficial veins of the lower leg are easier to dissect, they are thought to be more vulnerable to trauma and lead to a higher complication rate when using them instead of the deep accompanying veins as recipient vessels. No clear evidence exists that proves this concept. Methods We retrospectively studied the outcomes of 97 patients who underwent free flap plasty to reconstruct predominantly traumatic defects of the lower extremity at our institute. The most used flap was the gracilis muscle flap. We divided the population into three groups based on the recipient veins that were used for microvascular anastomosis and compared their outcomes. The primary outcome was the major complication rate. Results Overall flap survivability was 93.81%. The complication rates were not higher when using the great saphenous vein as a recipient vessel when comparing to utilizing the deep concomitant veins alone or the great saphenous vein in combination to the concomitant veins. Conclusions In free flap surgery of the lower extremity, the selection of the recipient veins should not be restricted to the deep accompanying veins of the main vessels. The superficial veins, especially the great saphenous vein, offer an underrated option when performing free flap reconstruction.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제39권1호
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• pp.3-10
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• 2012

The free muscle-sparing transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous (MS-TRAM) and deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flaps involve transferring skin and subcutaneous tissue from the lower abdominal area and have many features that make them well suited for breast reconstruction. The robust blood supply of the free flap reduces the risk of fat necrosis and also enables aggressive shaping of the flap for breast reconstruction to optimize the aesthetic outcome. In addition, the free MS-TRAM flap and DIEP flap require minimal donor-site sacrifice in most cases. With proper patient selection and safe surgical technique, the free MS-TRAM flap and DIEP flap can transfer the lower abdominal skin and subcutaneous tissue to provide an aesthetically pleasing breast reconstruction with minimal donor-site morbidity.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• 제7권2호
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• pp.122-128
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• 1998

Radial forearm flap is one of the most useful skin flap in hand reconstructuion with distally based reverse pedicled or free vascularized fashion. Athors modified that flap into reverse pedicled and free vascularized flap which has advantages of both methods. The modification composed with harvesting flap on recipient side distal forearm just as free flap, than apply it as reverse distal pedicled flap fashion with microvascular anastomosis with distal vascular stump of donor radial vessels. We underwent this method in 5 cases in finger reconstruction from 1996, all of the cases had sucessful results. The advantages of this method are: 1. Thin flap which is compatible to finger skin can harvest from distal forearm with very long vascular pedicle that can be passed under the subcutaneous tunnel which avoid additional skin incisions on the hand. 2. The vessels of donor site and recipient site are same vessel in effected side of forearm, which can preserve contralateral side forearm and hand keep intact. 3. The flap can cover the defects on distal portion of the fingers which is difficult in conventional reversed radial forearm pedicled flap because of limited mobilization of flap due to limitation of pedicle length reach to tip of the fingers.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• 제8권2호
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• pp.163-169
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• 1999

Purpose : To evaluate the efficacy of free musculocutaneous flap in the treatment of chronic osteomyelitis with drain sinus. Materials and Methods : Eighteen patients (sixteen male and two female) whose average age was 42.6 years were followed for an average of 3.5 years after free musculocutaneous flap for chronic osteomyelitis with drain sinus tract. The period of time between the initial injury and this procedure was average 10.6 years. The patients had an average of 4.1 prior surgical procedure before it. Results : Sixteen(88.9%) of the eighteen free musculocutaneous flap survived, including thirteen of latisimus dorsi flap, three of scapular free flap with muscle, two of medial plantar flap with abductor muscle. Sixteen cases had no evidence of recurrence at follow up. Conclusion : Free musculocutaneous flap is an extremely successful and reliable procedure for the treatment of chronic osteomyelitis with drain sinus. This flap with microvascular anastomses is highly vascularized through its own intrinsic blood vessels, which has the advantage of obliterating dead space and providing improved vascularity to the relatively ischemic recipient site and covering the skin defect.