Colgajos Microvascularizados en Reconstrucción Maxilofacial: Avances de la Microcirugía / Microvascularized flaps in Maxillofacial Reconstruction: Advances in Microsurgery

RESUMEN: La reconstrucción de la cabeza y el cuello contempla avances importantes a lo largo de los años. Los colgajos microvasculares se han convertido en la primera opción de tratamiento en grandes defectos del territorio maxilofacial, mientras tanto, la tecnología con el uso de microscopía y luego las imágenes como CT, angiografía por tomografía computarizada, dispositivo ultrasónico, RNM o Doppler contribuyen a lograr una predictibilidad excepcional de estos colgajos microvasculares. Por lo general, la técnica de anastomosis consiste en una sutura de 9-0 en 360°, pero existen autores que han descrito diversos métodos que no son de sutura con un rendimiento aceptable. Existe un buen número de diferentes colgajos microvasculares, cuatro de ellos son los más comunes en la reconstrucción maxilofacial: fíbula, ilíaco, antebrazo radial, escápula. Además el colgajo anterolateral, muy útil en defectos de piel y tejidos blandos. La evolución de los colgajos microvasculares implica los colgajos quiméricos, muy útiles en defectos grandes. El objetivo de este artículo es describir y exponer el desarrollo de la microcirugía y las diversas opciones de colgajos microvasculares en la reconstrucción maxilofacial.

ABSTRACT: Head and neck reconstruction have shown important advances over the years. Microvasculars flaps transfer has become the first treatment option in large defects of the maxillofacial area. Meanwhile technology through the use of microscopy and the subsequent use of images such as CT, CT angiography, RNM or Doppler ultrasonic device, and additional new techniques have contributed to an exceptional predictability of these microvascular flaps. Typically, the anastomosis technique consists in 9-0 suture in 360°, but since the vascular flaps exist, authors have described diverse non-suture methods with acceptable performance. There are a number of different microvasculars flaps, four of them are the most common in maxillofacial reconstruction: fibula, iliac, radial forearm, scapula. In addition the anterolateral tight flap, very useful in skin and soft tissues defects. The microvascular flaps evolution involves the chimeric flaps that are useful in large defects. The aim of this article is to describe and expose microsurgery development and the diverse microvascular flap options in maxillofacial reconstruction.

ТОЛГОЙ ХҮЗҮҮНИЙ БАЙРЛАЛТАЙ ХОРТОЙ ХАВДРЫН МЭС ЗАСАЛ ЭМЧИЛГЭЭНИЙ ДАРААХ БИЧИЛ СУДАС ЗАЛГАН ЧӨЛӨӨТ ДАЛБАН ШИЛЖҮҮЛЭН СУУЛГАСАН ЭРТ ҮЕИЙН ТУРШЛАГА / Шинэ санаа Шинэ нээлт

@#BACKGROUND. Head and neck cancers are related group of cancers that involve the oral cavity, pharynx (oropharynx, nasopharynx, hypopharynx), and larynx. Early-stage tumors of the upper aerodigestive tract can be cured; for late-stage disease, prognosis is poor. Nowadays microvascular free tissue transfer surgery performed at high level. Worldwide, this particular kind of operation in head and neck surgical field has become “golden standard” of treatment. Seemingly, plastic and reconstructive surgeons of developed countries widely perform forearm free flap, anteriolateral thigh free flap, fibula free flap, rectus abdominal free flap, latissimusdorsi free flap. We purpose to report our first 121 cases of Microvascular Free Tissue Transfer which had been performed at the head and neck surgical department, NCC of Mongolia. METHODS. The clinical records of first 121 cases patients who had microvascular reconstruction done between 2011 and 2017 were reviewed. The indications for surgery, choice of flap, duration of surgery and flap survival were noted. RESULTS. Our study were performed on 121 cases, among them 84.3% flaps were survived, most of defects occurred following cancer resection. Anterolateral thigh and radial forearm flaps were performed commonly for our reconstruction surgery. CONCLUSION. 84.3% free flap recorded success rate indicates our early experiences. Although the National Medical University do not have postgraduate reconstructive and plastic surgical training, we believe that meticulous planning, careful vessel selection, close flap monitoring as well as improved infrastructural support can lead us to much better success rates of microvascular reconstruction in our country.

Reconstructive Trends in Post-Ablation Patients with Esophagus and Hypopharynx Defect

The main challenge in pharyngoesophageal reconstruction is the restoration of swallow and speech functions. The aim of this paper is to review the reconstructive options and associated complications for patients with head and neck cancer. A literature review was performed for pharynoesophagus reconstruction after ablative surgery of head and neck cancer for studies published between January 1980 to July 2015 and listed in the PubMed database. Search queries were made using a combination of 'esophagus' and 'free flap', 'microsurgical', or 'free tissue transfer'. The search query resulted in 123 studies, of which 33 studies were full text publications that met inclusion criteria. Further review into the reference of these 33 studies resulted in 15 additional studies to be included. The pharyngoesophagus reconstruction should be individualized for each patient and clinical context. Fasciocutaneous free flap and pedicled flap are effective for partial phayngoesophageal defect. Fasciocutaneous free flap and jejunal free flap are effective for circumferential defect. Pedicled flaps remain a safe option in the context of high surgical risk patients, presence of fistula. Among free flaps, anterolateral thigh free flap and jejunal free flap were associated with superior outcomes, when compared with radial forearm free flap. Speech function is reported to be better for the fasciocutaneous free flap than for the jejunal free flap.

Treatment of Intraoperative Thrombosis and Spasm in Free Tissue Transfers Using the Fogarty Catheter

PURPOSE: Microvascular free tissue transfer has become a reliable technique for the reconstruction of complex wounds. Occasionally, unexpected intraoperative thrombosis and/or spasm of recipient artery might be annoying problems even for the technically competent microvascular surgeons. If such problems are not treated properly, they will inevitably cause to flap failure. METHODS: From January 2006 to February 2007, soft tissue reconstructions by free tissue transfers were performed on 21 patients having complex defects in the lower extremity. Although segmental revision and various pharmacologic agents were repeatedly applied, arterial occlusions were not managed in 6 cases. For removal of thrombi and release of spasm, Fogarty No. 2 or No. 3 catheters were inserted into the lumen to the proximal recipient artery. Its balloon was then inflated after passing through a resistant area. Next, the catheter was gently withdrawn backward. RESULTS: After the Fogarty catheter was inserted two or three times, the pulsatile arterial flow was restored. When the catheter was inserted into the lumen, a feeling of resistance existed in a 5-10cm more proximal portion that could not be easily accessed from the vascular end. After the reestablishment of blood flow, successful anastomoses were achieved and immediate rethrombosis or spasm did not occur. No long-term sequelae associated with balloon trauma to the arterial wall were observed. CONCLUSION: The use of the Fogarty catheter can be an effective method in treating pedicle thrombosis and spasm. This is a very simple and rapid technique that offers microvascular surgeons another option to increase the success rate of microvascular anastomosis in free tissue transfers.

Emergent Exploration after Free Tissue Transfer in Head and Neck Cancer

PURPOSE: Microvascular reconstructive surgery has become an integral part of the treatment of head and neck cancer patients. This review of 121 free flaps for head and neck cancer patients performed over the last 11 years was done to evaluate circulatory crisis, salvage, and secondary reconstruction and to investigate which factors may contribute to these rates. METHOD: Nine emergent explorations among 121 head and neck reconstruction with free flaps were reviewed to analyze detection of vascular crisis, the time interval from detection of circulatory crisis to exploration, operation procedures and results, and secondary reconstructions. Emergent exploration was done with our protocol. RESULT: Nine free flaps exhibited signs of vascular problems between 1 day and 6 days postoperatively. The emergent exploration rate of this series was 7.4% (9/121). The salvage rate was 55.6% (5/9), giving an overall flap viability of 96.7% (117/121). In our study, preoperative radiation therapy, positive smoking history, alcohol consumption history, combined disease such as diabetes mellitus and hypertension, recipient vessels and types of vascular anastomosis were not related to the causes of circulatory crisis. The mean time interval between the onset of clinical recognition of impaired flap perfusion and re-exploration of the salvaged 5 flaps was 3.2 hours, that of failed 4 flaps was 11.25 hours. CONCLUSION: Despite high overall success rate, relatively low salvage rate may be attributed to late detection of circulatory crisis and in long time interval between detection and exploration. We conclude that early detection of circulatory crisis and expeditious re-exploration are a matter of great importance for the success of salvage operation.

The Safety of Microsurgical Head and Neck Reconstruction in the Elderly Patients

By means of microsurgical free-tissue transfer providing a large amount of required tissue, the surgeon can resect tumoral tissue more safely, which allows tumor-free margins and enhances the reliability of the ablative surgery that otherwise could not be performed radically. The morbidity of elective free-tissue transfer seems to be quite low, carrying acceptable risks for most patients. But the elderly patients are at risk for cardiac and respiratory problems, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary emboli and infection merely as a function of age. This study was undertaken to define further risks of the elderly population with regards to free-tissue transfer. We retrospectively reviewed our experience with 110 microsurgical free-tissue transfers for head and neck reconstruction in patients greater than 60 years of age. Microsurgical procedures in all cases were preformed by the plastic and reconstructive department at Yonsei medical center. The investigated parameters were patient demographics, past medical history, American Society of Anesthesiologists(ASA) status, site and cause of defect, the free tissue transferred and postoperative complication including free-flap success or failure. There were 46 patients in the age group from 60 to 64 years, 34 patients from 65 to 70 years, and 30 patients 70 years or older. There happened 3 flap losses, resulting in a flap viability rate of 97%. Patients with a higher ASA designation experienced more medical complication(p=0.05, 0.01, 0.03 in each age group I, II, III) but not surgical complication p=0.17, 0.11, 0.54 in each age group I, II, III). And the relationship between postoperative complication and age groups was not significant. These observations suggest that major determinant for postoperative medical complication be the patient's American Society of Anesthesiologists score, and chronologic age alone should not be an exclusion criterion when selecting patients for free-tissue transfer.

Treatment of Severe Equinus Deformity Associated with Extensive Scarring of the Leg and Ankle with the Hinged Ilizarov and Free Tissue Transfer / 대한정형외과학회잡지

We evaluated the results following the use of hinged Ilizarov and free tissue transfer to correct the eqinus deformity of the foot associated with extensive scarring of the leg and ankle in nine patients. The deformity was secondary to ischemic and neuropathic changes after trauma to the leg, ankle and foot. The average age of the patients was seventeen years (range, thirteen to thirty-four years). The average duration of follow-up was twenty-one months (range, twelve to thirty-eight months). Free tissue transfer was done in all cases, parascapular flap was done in seyen cases, groin flap was done in two cases. Among the nine cases, free tissue transfer and hinged Ilizaov were done at the same time in four cases, The average interval of the other five patients between free tissue transfer and hinged Ilizaov was three months (range, two to four months). The duration of distraction was four to six weeks, and the apparatus was kept in place for an additional two months after the desired position of correction had been achieved. The results were evaluated using two criteria, dorsiflexion and range of motion of ankle joint. Criteria on dorsiflexion of ankle, the results were good in seven cases, fair in two cases. Criteria on range of motion of ankle, one case being performed ankle fusion was not evaluated. Total eight cases were evaluated for range of motion of ankle. The results were good in six cases, fair in two cases. On the basis of our results, we believe that severe eqinus deformities of the foot associated with extensive scarring of the leg and ankle can be corrected with heel cord lengthening, free tissue transfer and hinged Ilizarov.