Tracheal reconstruction with porcine small intestine submucosa in a rabbit model.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the ability of porcine small intestine submucosa (SIS) to 1) maintain airway patency, 2) integrate, 3) prevent granulation tissue formation, and 4) permit mucosalization when used for tracheal reconstruction. Further studies were performed to evaluate the ability of SIS to support neochondrogenesis and investigate the impact of neochondrogenesis on airway patency. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, controlled animal trial with SIS used with and without a perichondrial flap to reconstruct a tracheal defect in a rabbit model. Functional, histologic and endoscopic analyses were performed. RESULTS: All animals except 1 control animal were without stridor. The SIS graft supported neochondrogenesis, was completely mucosalized and was well integrated into the neotrachea. There was minimal granulation tissue formation. Endoscopic analyses did not reveal a consistent, significant difference in airway patency when SIS, with or without a perichondrial flap, was used for reconstruction. CONCLUSION: SIS can be used to reconstruct a sublethal rabbit tracheal defect with no mortality and minimal morbidity.

Effects of Tisseel and FloSeal on primary ischemic time in a rat fasciocutaneous free flap model.

OBJECTIVES: Free flaps are the technique of choice for reconstruction of defects resulting from extirpation of tumors of the head and neck. Advances in microsurgical technique have resulted in success rates of greater than 95%. Numerous intraoperative factors, ranging from technical issues to topically applied agents, can complicate the outcome of microsurgical free tissue transfer. Synthetic tissue adhesives and hemostatic agents are playing an ever-increasing role in reconstructive surgery. The safety of these factors in free flap surgery has not been ascertained. STUDY DESIGN: Animal Care Committee live rat model. METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups: group I, Control; group 2, FloSeal; group 3, Tisseel. In each group, a 3 x 6 cm ventral fasciocutaneous groin flap based on the left superficial epigastric artery was elevated and the experimental material applied beneath the flap and around the flap pedicle prior to suturing of the flap back to the wound bed. The experimental materials consisted of 0.2 mL saline in the control group, 0.5 mL FloSeal, and 0.2 mL Tisseel. In phase I of this study, the effect of each treatment on flap survival was assessed by survival at postoperative day 4. In phase II of the study, the effects of these agents on ischemic tolerance was investigated. Five rats in each treatment group were exposed to ischemic times of 6, 8, 10, and 12 hours. Survival of the flap was assessed 7 days after reversal of the ischemia. Probit curves and the critical ischemic time (CIT50) were calculated. RESULTS: All flaps survived the 2-hour period of ischemia and were viable at postoperative day 4. Flap survival from group 1 (Control), group 2 (FloSeal), and group 3 (Tisseel) at the various ischemic times was as follows: at 6 hours, 80%, 80%, and 80%, respectively; at 8 hours, 80%, 80%, 60%; at 10 hours, 60%, 33%, 40%; at 12 hours, 20%, 20%, 0%. The CIT50 for the Control, FloSeal, and Tisseel groups was 9.4, 9.0, and 7.0 hours, respectively.CONCLUSIONS FloSeal, a thrombin-based hemostatic agent, and Tisseel, a fibrin glue, displayed no adverse effect on flap survival in this model.

Short-term functional donor site morbidity after radial forearm fasciocutaneous free flap harvest.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: The existing literature on postoperative donor extremity function describes a spectrum of morbidity in the long term (>3 mo after surgery). However, the consensus is that there is minimal to no impact of flap harvest on patients' activities of daily living. No previous reports have examined functional donor site morbidity in the early postoperative period; such may affect patients' overall perioperative progress, especially with respect to donor extremity dominance. The authors' objective was to quantify functional morbidity of the donor site in radial forearm fasciocutaneous free flaps during the early postoperative period. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case series review. METHODS: Patient data were obtained from hospital records of 12 consecutive patients who underwent head and neck reconstruction with radial forearm fasciocutaneous free tissue transfer over a 6-month period at a tertiary academic medical center. Functional results of each patient's donor extremity obtained preoperatively and at 5 to 8 days after surgery were determined by quantifying forearm supination and pronation, wrist flexion and extension, and sharp and dull hand sensations in radial, median, and ulnar nerve distributions. RESULTS: Mean patient age was 57 years (age range, 42-71 y). The nondominant extremity was the donor site in 9 of 12 patients. Using the paired two-tailed t test, statistically significant differences were demonstrated in preoperative versus postoperative forearm supination (P <.032), pronation (P <.006), wrist flexion (P <.000), and wrist extension (P <.000). Three of 12 patients demonstrated diminished sharp sensation in the "anatomical snuffbox" distribution. CONCLUSION: The authors describe statistically significant functional forearm and wrist range-of-motion morbidity associated with the harvest of a radial forearm fasciocutaneous free flap in the early postoperative period.

The effect of 2 sealants (FloSeal and Tisseel) on fasciocutaneous flap revascularization.

BACKGROUND: Fasciocutaneous tissue transfer is one of the most common procedures performed in head and neck reconstructive surgery. These composite tissues can be transferred as either a free flap or a pedicled flap. Free tissue transfer has become the reconstructive modality of choice following head and neck oncologic ablation. Synthetic tissue adhesives and hemostatic agents are rapidly gaining popularity in reconstructive surgery. Their ability to decrease bleeding and promote flap sealing and healing has led to a proliferation in their use. To our knowledge, the short-term effect of these substances on healing, as measured by flap revascularization, has not been systematically investigated. METHODS: Fifty-six male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 3 groups: a control group, a matrix hemostatic sealant (FloSeal) group, and a 2-component fibrin sealant (Tisseel) group. In each group, the rats had a 3 x 6-cm fasciocutaneous flap based on the inferior epigastric artery elevated and exposed to 2 hours of primary ischemia. In the control group, 0.2 mL of isotonic sodium chloride solution was placed between the flap and its bed, while in the experimental groups, 0.5 mL of FloSeal or 0.2 mL of Tisseel was applied to the wound before closure. Each group was then divided into groups of 5 rats. Each of these groups then had their pedicle divided on postischemic day 4, 5, 6, or 7. The percentage survival of the flap was measured 7 days after pedicle ligation. RESULTS: There was no statistical difference in flap survival of rats treated with isotonic sodium chloride solution, Tisseel, or FloSeal. Ligation of the flap pedicle on days 4, 5, 6, or 7 did not result in any difference in flap survival among the 3 groups. CONCLUSION: The FloSeal and Tisseel demonstrate no short-term detrimental effect on flap survival nor do they seem to affect revascularization in a fasciocutaneous free flap model.

The ulnar fasciocutaneous free flap in head and neck reconstruction.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: The radial forearm fasciocutaneous free flap has become the reconstructive tissue of choice for the majority of soft tissue defects in the head and neck. The forearm skin has many of the ideal soft tissue characteristics that optimize reconstruction and rehabilitation in these patients. The tissue is malleable, supple, and moldable in three dimensions; has a reliable pedicle; and can be harvested with a two-team approach. In some patients, the radial forearm cannot be used. An alternative is to use the adjacent tissue, which shares identical tissue characteristics. This tissue gets its vascular supply from the ulnar artery. The purpose of the report was to describe the authors' experience with the ulnar fasciocutaneous free flap in head and neck reconstruction. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective consecutive case series. METHODS: Retrospective review of all patients undergoing ulnar fasciocutaneous free tissue transfer by a group of microvascular surgeons was performed. Thirty patients underwent free tissue transfer using the ulnar fasciocutaneous free flap. The male-to-female ratio was 3:1. RESULTS: Defects were located in the oral cavity (14), oropharynx (12), neck skin (1), and soft tissue of the lateral skull (3). The average size of the skin paddle that was transferred was 7 x 10 cm (range, 3 x 5 to 9 x 12 cm). The mean area of tissue that was transferred was 70 cm2 (range, 15-108 cm2). Vessel sizes were somewhat smaller than the comparable radial forearm. One patient had complete loss of the skin graft on the donor site. There were no median nerve or other wound-healing problems. Two flaps were lost in the postoperative period. Indications for use of the ulnar fasciocutaneous free flap were failed Allen's test (23), use of a less hairy part of the forearm (3), and surgical preference (4). CONCLUSIONS: The ulnar fasciocutaneous free flap has all of the tissue characteristics of the radial forearm flap. When a radial forearm flap cannot be used and forearm skin is desired, consideration of an ulnar fasciocutaneous free flap should be undertaken.