Intraoral anastomosis for primary microsurgical reconstruction in patients of oral cavity malignancies: Retrospective analysis of 30 cases from a tertiary care center in India.

INTRODUCTION: In patients undergoing either robotic neck dissection or no neck dissection, the neck recipient vessels for the free flaps remain unexposed. Intraoral vessels have been successfully used as microvascular recipients but their use in intraoral malignancies is uncommon. We describe our initial experience of using intraoral recipients in 30 patients with oral cavity malignancies. METHODS: For this retrospective observational study, the hospital records of all patients who underwent microvascular reconstruction using intraoral recipient vessels over a 14-month period at a tertiary care hospital in India were studied. Patient demographics, disease profile, details of oncosurgical resection, reconstructive procedure details, and postoperative recovery data were analyzed. RESULTS: Intraoral anastomosis was successfully performed in 30 patients. The average patient was middle-aged (mean age 54 years) and male (26/30). Location of the postexcision defect was the buccal mucosa in 16/30 and the tongue in 12/30 patients. Anterolateral thigh flap (ALT) was used in 28/30 patients. Recipient vessels were facial vessels in 24/30 patients and lingual vessels in 6/30 patients. Venous anastomotic coupler was used in 27/30 patients. Three patients underwent re-exploration for flap congestion with loss of flap in 2/30 patients. CONCLUSION: The intraoral approach offers consistent vascular anatomy and can be performed without any external incision and oro-cervical tunneling. Being technically challenging, it has an initial learning phase. Adequate mouth opening and preservation of recipient vessels during excision and neck dissection are important prerequisites. This approach can offer a scarless reconstruction, which can improve the psycho-social rehabilitation of the patients.

Technical and anatomic considerations of skin flap elevation in bilateral axillo-breast insufflation robotic-assisted neck dissection.

We have divided the chest and neck flap elevation for neck dissection into four steps. The flaps are divided into three zones corresponding to the vascular structures, which can be injured in this area. Our modifications outline safe techniques of flap elevation for robotic neck dissection.

Squamous cell carcinoma of the superior gingivobuccal sulcus: an 11-year institutional experience of 203 cases.

OBJECTIVE: The report presents an 11-year Institutional experience of 203 cases with superior gingivobuccal sulcus tumours receiving surgical intervention at a comprehensive tertiary cancer care centre. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of patients with a confirmed diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma of superior gingivobuccal sulcus was done and data related to patient demographic profile; details of surgical procedure, follow-up and survival were collected. RESULTS: Infratemporal fossa clearance was performed in 56 patients. The 10-year overall survival and disease-free survival was observed to be 39 and 52%, respectively, with a median follow-up of 15 months. The overall survival was 40 and 36%, respectively, in cases with and without infratemporal fossa clearance. Similarly, the disease-free survival was found to be 58 and 49%, respectively, in cases with and without infratemporal fossa clearance. CONCLUSION: Patients with higher stage tumours who underwent infratemporal fossa clearance showed better overall and disease-free survival than those who did not undergo infratemporal fossa clearance.