Variation of microvascular blood flow augmentation--supercharge in esophageal and pharyngeal reconstruction.

AIM OF THE STUDY: A gastric tube is commonly used in thoracic esophageal reconstruction. When a gastric tube is not available, pedicled jejunum transfer and colonic interposition are alternative methods. Oral end of the reconstructed esophagus occasionally has poor blood flow and may result in partial necrosis of the oral segment. We performed additional microvascular blood flow augmentation, the "supercharge" technique, to improve a blood flow circulation in the oral segment of the reconstructed esophagus. METHODS: A series of 86 esophageal reconstructions with microvascular blood flow augmentation using the "supercharge" technique were performed. Reconstructive methods included a gastric tube in five patients, a gastric tube combined with a free jejunual graft in one, an elongated gastric tube in eight, a pedicled colonic interposition in 22, and a pedicled jejunum in 50. Recipient vessels were used in neck or chest region. RESULTS: The color and blood flow of the transferred intestine appeared greatly improved after microvascular blood flow augmentation. Thrombosis was noticed in three patients during the surgery, and all thrombosies were salvaged by re-anastomosis. There were only three patients with partial graft necrosis of oral segment, two patients with anastomotic leakage, one anastomotic stricture. CONCLUSIONS: Augmentation of microvascular blood flow by this "supercharge" technique can be expected to reduce the risk of leakage and partial necrosis of the transferred intestine. This technique contributes to the successful reconstruction of esophageal defect.

A new technique of microvascular suturing: the chopstick rest technique.

With the conventional techniques of tying knots during microvascular anastomosis or neural suturing, time may be lost due to various reasons. The loose end of the suture often falls down into the operative field and gets stuck to the surrounding tissues. In the process of retrieving the suture, the surrounding tissues can be picked up together with the suture. When the posterior wall technique [Br J Plast Surg 34 (1981) 47, Plast Reconstr Surg 69 (1982) 139, Microsurgery 8 (1987) 22, J Reconstr Microsurg 15 (1999) 321] is used, the loose end of the suture may be stuck to the backside of the vessel and may be hard to grab. In order to avoid those problems, a new way of tying a microsuture was developed. By avoiding contact of the loose end of the suture to the surrounding tissue at any point during tying, the microvascular anastomosis can be performed quicker and more efficiently.

[TRAM flap breast reconstruction using a fascia-sparing technique].

Although the TRAM flap has been accepted as one of the most common methods for breast reconstruction utilizing the autologous tissue, its disadvantage is that scarring of the abdominal sheath and muscle may result in postoperative abdominal bulge or hernia. To solve this problem, the authors developed the fascia-sparing technique in TRAM flap breast reconstruction. The technique, in which most of the anterior rectus sheath is preserved, has been applied in 3 patients after radical mastectomy and 7 patients after modified radical mastectomy. With an average follow-up period of 1 year and 2 months, no abdominal bulge or hernia was noted in any patient without the use of prosthetic mesh for the abdominal closure. This fascia sparing technique is particularly effective for TRAM flap reconstruction requiring bilateral rectus abdominis muscle portions and containing only a few minor perforators, for which a DIEP flap is not suitable.

Microsurgical reconstruction of chest- and abdominal-wall defects associated with intraperitoneal vessels.

Microsurgical reconstruction of abdominal or chest-wall defects requires extreme precision but may still raise serious problems. In previous publications many methods have been reported, including free fascia graft, synthetic mesh, pedicled flap, and free flap with microvascular anastomoses. Free-flap transfer has become a popular operative procedure for such reconstructions. The recipient vessels utilized have been mainly the external peritoneal system. In some cases, however, it is very difficult to find adequate recipient vessels in the external peritoneal region. Intraperitoneal vessels may be obviously exposed in the surgical field because there has been a full-thickness defect of the abdominal or chest wall. These vessels are rather easily found and dissected. Their diameter is about 1 to 2 mm, appropriate for microvascular anastomoses with flap vessels in the reconstruction. Using intraperitoneal vessels for the recipient vessels has rarely been reported. The authors report three cases of reconstruction of full-thickness defects of the abdominal or chest wall, using these vessels as recipients for free flaps.

The combined flap based on a single vascular source: a clinical experience with 32 cases.

This article provides a retrospective review of 32 combined flap transfers. It consists of two or more flaps based on independent vascular branches from a single vascular source. This series included the combined flap based on the subscapular-circumflex scapular-thoracodorsal vascular system in 24 patients and the profunda femorislateral circumflex femoral vascular system in 8 patients. Twenty-four combined flaps were transferred as free flaps and eight as pedicled flaps. The combined flap based on the subscapular system has very good indications for massive and three-dimensional composite defects in the head and neck region. The combined flap based on the lateral circumflex femoral-profunda femoris system is useful for reconstruction of large defects in the groin, perineal, and lower abdominal regions.

Superiority of the microvascularly augmented flap: analysis of 50 transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous flaps for breast reconstruction.

Our experience with 50 transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous (TRAM) flap transfers was evaluated as to the types of TRAM flaps, indications for breast reconstruction with a TRAM flap, and complications. The TRAM flap was transferred as a free flap in 7 patients, a unipedicled flap in 14 patients, and a microvascularly augmented flap in 29 patients. Microvascular augmentation was performed through the contralateral inferior epigastric vascular system to the superiorly pedicled muscle in 10 patients who had undergone radical mastectomy and the ipsilateral inferior epigastric vascular system in 19 patients who had undergone modified radical mastectomy. In this series, the incidence of flap-site complications, including total flap loss, partial flap loss, and fat necrosis, was lowest in the microvascularly augmented flap group. Particularly, incidence of partial flap loss in the microvascularly augmented flap group was significantly lower than in the unipedicled flap group (p < 0.01). These outcomes demonstrated the superiority of the microvascularly augmented TRAM flap for breast reconstruction.

Mesenteric flap in free jejunal transfers: a versatile technique for head and neck reconstruction.

BACKGROUND: The technique of free jejunal transfers has been widely used for pharyngoesophageal reconstruction. However, secondary infectious and fistulous complications may develop in extensive and preoperatively high-dose irradiated cases. METHODS: A generous jejunomesenteric composite graft was harvested and the mesenterium was effectively applied for head and neck reconstruction. RESULTS: The mesenteric flap connected with the revascularized jejunum was used as means for obliterating dead space in the head and neck region, as a cover for the cover for the cervical vessels, as a vascularized bolstering for the vascular and enteral anastomoses, or as a vascularized bed for skin grafting when the skin flaps are deficient. Only one small fistula occurred in 10 patients who underwent the mesenteric flap. CONCLUSIONS: This versatile technique is expected to reduce the incidence of postoperative complications in pharyngoesophageal reconstruction using free jejunal transfers.

Combined V figure-shaped scapular osteocutaneous and latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap for composite mandibular reconstruction.

BACKGROUND: As early as 1981, the scapular crest was reported as a versatile donor site of vascularized bone flap. In our institute, much attention has been paid to applying a compound flap based on the subscapular vascular system for composite mandibular reconstruction. METHODS: The combined V figure-shaped scapular osteocutaneous and latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap has been used for primary or secondary reconstruction of the mandible, intraoral mucosa and/or external skin following major ablation of the malignant tumors in seven patients. RESULTS: There was one total flap failure. Satisfactory results were obtained in the remaining patients. CONCLUSIONS: The V figure-shaped scapular bone flap supplied by the angular branch provides a long rotation arc of vascular pedicle, a long bony segment of more than 14 cm, and a good contour of mental protuberance. The combination of the scapular osteocutaneous flap with latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap allows reliable reconstruction of massive and three-dimensional composite mandibular defects.

"Boomerang" rectus abdominis musculocutaneous free flap in head and neck reconstruction.

Immediate head and neck reconstruction after cancer resection using the "boomerang" rectus abdominis musculocutaneous (RAM) free flap was performed in 13 patients over the past 2 years. The skin paddle of the flap is designed as a boomerang shape based on the anatomical construction of the dominant perforators from the inferior epigastric vascular system. A versatile technique of the boomerang RAM flap provides effective use for reconstruction of the complex defects at the skull base, orbital, nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses, oropharynx, palate, buccal mucosa, tongue, floor of mouth, and neck. It also allows a reconstructive surgical team to elevate the flap simultaneously with a head and neck surgical team before the size and location of the defect are exactly determined and greatly reduces operating time. This flap will be a routine technique for immediate head and neck reconstruction after cancer resection.

Experience with arteriovenous malformations treated with flap coverage.

Fourteen patients with arteriovenous malformations were treated with surgical resection followed by well-vascularized tissue transfer. Free-tissue transfers were used in 12 of the patients and axial local flaps in 2 patients to reconstruct the region with arteriovenous malformations. The feeding arteries of the arteriovenous malformations were used as recipient vessels in all cases of free-tissue transfers without any trouble in microvascular anastomosis. With an average follow-up of 3 years and 2 months, 12 patients showed no clinical recurrence (86 percent). Follow-up angiography in seven patients showed complete disappearance of malformations in two patients and residual malformations not enlarged in three patients. Two patients had residual malformations that were noted to be increasing in follow-up angiograms, and they also had clinical evidence of recurrence. In these patients an intramaxillary recurrence in one and intraorbital in the other appeared at about 1 and 3 years, respectively, after surgery. This therapeutic concept can be expected to provide great remission in the treatment of arteriovenous malformations.

Facial reconstruction with free-tissue transfer.

The article provides a retrospective review of 25 free-tissue transfers for facial reconstruction on 24 recipient sites in 21 patients. The recipient sites of the face were classified into frontal (4 patients), orbital (2 patients), nasal (2 patients), buccal (11 patients), and oral region (5 patients). The transferred flaps included 16 fasciocutaneous flaps (6 forearm flaps, 5 scapular flaps, 2 anteromedial thigh flaps, 1 lateral arm flap, 1 dorsalis pedis flap, and 1 deltopectoral flap) and 8 myocutaneous flaps (6 latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flaps, 1 serratus anterior myocutaneous flap, 1 rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap, and 1 prefabricated flap). Thinning modifications such as the expansion, reduction, or extension techniques were performed in the myocutaneous flap to avoid having a bulky flap. In our view, the flap from the trunk matches the facial skin color better than that from the extremity. Satisfactory results were attained in all cases in which a complete replacement of the facial aesthetic unit was performed.

"Turbo charging" the vertical rectus abdominis myocutaneous (turbo-VRAM) flap for reconstruction of extensive chest wall defects.

We report our experience using "turbo charging" of the vertical rectus abdominis myocutaneous (turbo-VRAM) flap in 7 patients with extensive chest wall defects. The turbo-VRAM flap provides augmented blood supply with microvascular anastomosis between the inferior epigastric system and available vessels of the axillary, brachial or cervical vascular system. All patients in this study had uncomplicated recovery. In 3 patients, the skin paddle of the flap, which was designed as a fish shape, was effectively used to cover a wide defect. One patient required resection of some lower costal cartilages located near the superior epigastric vascular system in order to extend the rotation distance of the flap. These technical options have made the turbo-VRAM flap more versatile. The turbo-VRAM flap allows successful coverage of extensive chest wall defects, including defects of the axilla, upper arm, shoulder, or neck.

Abdominoplasty in paraplegic patients.

Obese paraplegics can suffer discomfort when they lie in a prone position and site in wheelchairs. Two paraplegic cases who underwent abdominoplasty to eliminate such complaints are presented, with satisfactory results.

Laserflowgraphy: a new visual blood flow meter utilizing a dynamic laser speckle effect.

We developed a visual laser blood flow meter that is capable of providing two-dimensional color graphic representations of blood flow distribution for a given area by utilizing a dynamic laser speckle effect. The device is called the laserflowgraph. The principle and configuration of this flowmeter, comparison with the 133Xe clearance method, difference from thermography, and clinical uses of this flowmeter in flap monitoring are presented. Flow level of the laserflowgraph was significantly correlated with blood flow rate determined by 133Xe clearance in observations on the forearms of normal volunteers. The laserflowgraph reflected blood flow through the region between the skin surface and the deeper region of the papillary layer of the dermis. The laserflowgraph is a highly useful, practical, and reliable tool for assessing cutaneous blood flow and is expected to be applicable to various clinical fields.

Superiority of the fasciocutaneous flap in reconstruction of sacral pressure sores.

The gluteal maximus muscle has been used in the treatment of sacral pressure sores since the 1970s. However, it is noted that the muscle portion of the transferred flap shows highly atrophic degeneration and the muscle itself is not suitable tissue for covering the pressure-bearing area. We have managed various fasciocutaneous flaps as the first choice for reconstruction of sacral pressure sores and obtained good results. The fasciocutaneous flap has an anatomical structure that resists physical stimulation or external pressure and an abundant blood supply via its fascial plexus. In addition, if we use a gluteal maximus myocutaneous flap at first, some fasciocutaneous flaps are compromised because of the design and blood supply. We suggest that the fasciocutaneous flap has the first priority and is superior to the gluteal maximus myocutaneous and muscle flaps in reconstruction of sacral pressure sores.

Reconstruction of recurrent pressure sores using free flaps.

The authors describe two successful reconstructions of recurrent pressure sores with free fasciocutaneous flaps. In Case 1, a free lateral thigh flap pedicled on the first and third direct cutaneous branches of the deep femoral vessels was used to cover a large recurrent sacral pressure sore. The vascular pedicle was dissected to the deep femoral trunk proximally and anastomosed to the inferior gluteal vessels. In Case 2, a free medial plantar flap was transferred to a recurrent ischial pressure sore. The vascular pedicle was dissected to the posterior tibial vessels proximally. The long vascular pedicle of the flap was passed through the femoral subcutaneous tunnel, and end-to-side microvascular anastomoses were performed to the superficial femoral trunk without any vein grafts. The authors advocate the use of free tissue transfer for recurrent pressure sore reconstruction.

The anticancer effect of antineoplaston A-10 on human breast cancer serially transplanted to athymic mice.

We report the effects of Antineoplaston A-10 Injection on the growth curve of human breast cancer (R-27) serially transplanted to athymic mice. The intraperitoneal administration of 1/4 LD-50 (50 mg/mouse) of Antineoplaston A-10 Injection every day and 1/2 LD-50 (100 mg/mouse) every other day for 35 days was found to significantly inhibit the growth curve and also the 3H-TdR uptake was inhibited by 73.7% in those given 1/4 LD-50 and by 77.1% in those given 1/2 LD-50. The tumor histology in both groups showed necrosis but no lymphocyte infiltration.

[Experimental study on an adriamycin-aluminum complex modified anticancer agent].

We produced the chelated Adriamycin-Aluminum complex (ADM-Al complex) for experimented evaluation. Human gastric cancer was transplanted into nude mice divided into 4 groups for drug injections; 1) Control (0.9% NaCl), 2) Al acetate (1 mg/ml), 3) ADM only (1 mg/ml) and 4) ADM-Al complex (ADM 1 mg/ml + Al 1 mg/ml), 0.2 ml of each was administered through several injections simultaneously into the tumor periphery. Long term retention of ADM in the tumor was observed pathologically in Group 4. The concentration (microgram/g) of ADM after injection (5, 7, 28 days) was 22.3, 12.6, and 3.5 in Group 4, against 8.4, 2.0, and 0.0 in Group 3 (p less than 0.01). The estimated tumor weight inhibition rate was 66.6% in Group 4, compared with 21.4% in Group 3, and only 3% in Group 2. DNA tritium thymidine uptake inhibition rate was 43.8% in Group 4, compared with 21.2% in Group 3, and in 9.4% Group 2. No side-effect due to Al-chelation was observed. These results demonstrate the effectiveness of ADM-Al complex as a topical anticancer agent. Clinical use must be explored.

Replacing losses in kind: improved sensation following heel reconstruction using the free instep flap.

Two similar patients, with extensive defects of the heel treated by free tissue transfer of the contralateral instep, are discussed. Durable coverage and near normal static two-point discrimination were obtained in both. Improved results are attributed to the proximal interfascicular dissection of the medial plantar nerve and implantation into the posterior tibial nerve as the recipient. This flap may be transferred with only relatively minor donor-site complications. The contralateral instep free flap provides an ideal, durable, and sensate heel replacement, particularly when local tissues are unavailable.