• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제44권6호
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• pp.550-553
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• 2017

Esophageal perforation is a rare but potentially fatal complication of robot-assisted thyroidectomy (RAT). Herein, we report the long-term outcome of an esophageal reconstruction with a jejunal free flap for esophageal rupture after RAT. A 33-year-old woman developed subcutaneous emphysema and hoarseness on postoperative day1 following RAT. Esophageal rupture was diagnosed by computed tomography and endoscopy, and immediate surgical exploration confirmed esophageal rupture, as well as recurrent laryngeal nerve injury. We performed a jejunal free flap repair of the 8-cm defect in the esophagus. End-to-side microvascular anastomoses were created between the right external carotid artery and the jejunal branches of the superior mesenteric artery, and end-to-end anastomosis was performed between the external jugular vein and the jejunal vein. The right recurrent laryngeal nerve injury was repaired with a 4-cm nerve graft from the right ansa cervicalis. Esophagography at 1 year after surgery confirmed that there were no leaks or structures, endoscopy at 1 year confirmed the resolution of vocal cord paralysis, and there were no residual problems with swallowing or speech at a 5-year follow-up examination. RAT requires experienced surgeons with a thorough knowledge of anatomy, as well as adequate resources to quickly and competently address potentially severe complications such as esophageal rupture.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• 제16권2호
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• pp.100-107
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• 2007

Treatment of giant cell tumor of distal radius can be treated in several ways according to the aggressiveness of the tumor. But the management of giant cell tumor involving juxta-articular portion has always been a difficult problem. In some giant cell tumors with bony destruction, a wide segmental resection may be needed for preventing to recur. But a main problem is preserving of bony continuity in bony defect as well as preservation of joint function. We have attempted to overcome these problems by using a microvascular technique to transfer the fibula with peroneal vascular pedicle or anterior tibial vessel as living bone graft. From April 1984 to July 2005, we performed the reconstruction of wide bone defect after segmental resection of giant cell tumor in 14 cases, using Vascularized Fibular Graft, which occur at the distal radius. VFG with peroneal vascular pedicle was in 8 cases and anterior tibial vessel was 6 cases. Recipient artery was radial artery in all cases. Method of connection was end to end anastomosis in 11 cases, and end to side in 3 cases. An average follow-up was 6 years 6 months, average bone defect after wide segmental resection of lesion was 6.8 cm. All cases revealed good bony union in average 6.5 months, and we got the wide range of motion of wrist joint without recurrence and serious complications. Grafted bone was all alive. In functional analysis, there was good in 7 cases, fair in 4 cases and bad in 1 case. Pain was decreased in all cases but there was nearly normal joint in only 4 cases. Vascularized fibular graft around wrist joint provided good functional restoration without local recurrence.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• 제17권2호
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• pp.68-74
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• 2008

Segmental defects of the tibia after open fractures, sepsis and a tumor surgery are among the most difficult and challenging clinical problems. Tibia defects in these situations are complicated with infection and are resistant to conventional bone grafting techniques. The aim of this study is to report the results and discuss the role of free flap followed by ipsilateral vascularized fibular transposition (IVFT) for reconstruction of tibia defects. Ten patients had free flap followed by IVFT in the period 1989~2007. Mean age was 25.3 years. The patients were followed for an average of 3.4 years. All flaps were survived including 1 case with venous thrombosis requiring additional surgery. The average time to union of proximal and distal end was 5.2 months, 8.2 months, each other. All transposed fibula were viable at last follow-up. IVFT offers the advantages of a vascularized graft. In patients with large bone and soft tissue defects combined with infection, free flap followed by IVFT is an useful and reliable method without microvascular anastomosis.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• 제17권2호
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• pp.94-100
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• 2008

In the past decade, there has been increasing breast reconstructions after mastectomy, and the abdomen has been the gold standard for donor site. TRAM (transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous), MSTRAM (muscle sparing transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous), DIEP (deep inferior epigastric artery perforator), SIEA (superficial inferior epigastric artery) flap has been widely used nowadays. Among them, DIEP free flap spares the whole rectus abdominis muscle and anterior rectus sheath resulting in decreased donor site morbidity. Between March of 2006 and February of 2008, six patients had undergone immediate breast reconstructions using DIEP free flap. The mean age of patients was 48.5 years. All patients had unilateral breast reconstructions. We dissected two perforators which were included in the unilateral pedicle. Thoracodorsal artery and its venae comitantes were chosen as recipient vessels. For venous anastomosis, we used the GEM Microvascular Anastomotic Coupler System (Synovis Micro Companies Alliance, Inc., Birmingham, Ala.) in four cases. All flaps were survived completely except one who showed fatty abdomen in old age. She showed repetitive vascular spasm intraoperatively. None of the patients had abdominal hernia, bulge or weakness. We believe that DIEP free flap provides a reliable method for autologous breast reconstruction if the patients are selected appropriately and performed by a skillful surgeon.

• 대한두개안면성형외과학회지
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• 제20권1호
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• pp.37-43
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• 2019

Background: Tongue reconstruction is challenging with the unique function and anatomy. Goals for reconstruction differ depending on the extent of reconstruction. Thin and pliable flaps are useful for tongue tip reconstruction, for appearance and mobility. This study reports lateral arm free flap (LAFF) as a safe and optimal option for hemi-tongue reconstruction, especially for tongue tip after hemiglossectomy. Methods: Thirteen LAFFs were performed for hemi-tongue reconstruction after hemiglossectomy from 1995 to 2018. Of the 13 patients, seven were male and six were female, age varying from 24 to 64 years. Results: All flaps healed uneventfully without complications. Donor sites were closed primarily. The recipient vessels for microvascular anastomosis were mainly superior thyroidal artery, external jugular vein. All patients returned to normal diet, with no complaints regarding reconstructed tongue and donor site. Conclusion: The LAFF is hairless, thin (especially with lateral epicondyle approach), and potentially sensate. They are advantageous features for tongue tip and hemi-tongue reconstruction. Donor site sacrifices the inessential posterior radial collateral artery, and the scar is hidden under short sleeve shirts. We believe that LAFF can be considered as the first choice flap for hemitongue reconstruction, over radial forearm free flaps.

• Journal of Cerebrovascular and Endovascular Neurosurgery
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• 제25권3호
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• pp.260-266
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• 2023

Objective: Microvascular anastomosis, particularly side-to-side (STS) bypass, is a complex surgical procedure. While several suture techniques exist, none of them is superior to the others. We assessed the association between various STS bypass techniques and vessel twisting using chicken wing training models. Methods: Three suture techniques were compared over an anterior wall suture procedure. The unidirectional continuous suture (UCS) group used a downward "right-to-left" continuous suture. The reverse continuous suture (RCS) group used a downward "left-to-right" continuous suture. The interrupted suture (IS) group used the standard interrupted suture. The number of samples in each of the three groups was 30 (n=90). We compared the incidence of vessel twisting and rotation angles across groups. Results: Vessel twisting occurred in 96.7%, 56.7%, and 0% of the cases in the UCS, IS, and RCS groups, respectively. The incidence of vessel twisting differed significantly in all 3 groups (p<0.001), with an apparent trend (p=0.002). The mean rotation angles were 201°±90.6°, 102°±107.6°, and 0° in the UCS, IS, and RCS groups, respectively, which were significantly different (p<0.001). On excluding cases without twisting, the rotation angles of twisted vessels in the UCS and IS groups were 207.9°±83.7° and 180°±77.9°, respectively, which yielded a significant difference between these groups (p<0.001). Conclusions: We found that the incidence and trend of vessel twisting differed significantly across suture techniques. The RCS technique may aid in preventing vessel twisting in the STS bypass procedure.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• 제30권1호
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• pp.83-91
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• 2008

The goal of reconstruction following ablative therapy for intraoral cancer is the restoration of form and function to permit a return to activities of daily life. Traditional reconstruction includes split thickness skin grafts, myocutaneous flaps and, more recently, various free flaps. Free flaps provide higher level of functional recovery relative to that seen with other techniques but require the complexity of the technique and microvascular anastomosis and thus, extended surgical time and occasionally a second team for harvesting. The platysma myocutaneous cervical flap is a possible alternative for intraoral reconstruction. It is thin and pliable like the tissue provided by the radial forearm free flap. It can be harvested with enough tissue to close most head and neck ablative defects. There is virtually no donor site morbidity involved. This study evaluated 7 patients affected by intraoral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). All patients underwent the resection of intraoral SCC with neck dissection and subsequent intraoral reconstruction with the superiorly based platysma myocutaneous cervical flap. Flap-related complications occurred in 3 patients. Adjuvant radiation therapy was performed in 3 patients. Average follow-up was 24.1 months after surgery, with a range of 8 to 42 months. All patients presented self assessment of discomfort associated with intraoral recipient sites and cervical donor sites. However, the neck function measured by two-inclinometer technique was within the normal range during relatively long term follow-up period. Our study concluded that superiorly based platysma myocutaneous cervical flap is good alternative to free flaps, especially for relatively smaller defects and for the defects appropriate for the rotation arc of the flap.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• 제9권1호
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• pp.1-5
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• 2000

The microsurgical reconstruction is necessary for elderly patients to treat severe trauma and head and neck tumor. The aim of this study is to analyze the risks of microvascular surgery and whether or not happening of more complication in elderly patients who are older than 60 years old and to suggest the solution of the complication. The retrospective study included 41 elderly patients who underwent treatment of 44 microsurgical reconstructions among total 271 cases of microsurgical reconstruction from July, 1988 to December, 1998. Their ages ranged from 61 years to 79 years. There were 26 males and 15 females. The involved sites were 23 head and necks, 13 upper gastrointestinal tracts, 3 lower extremities, 1 chest and 1 sacral region. The causes of microsurgical reconstruction were 36 head and neck tumors, 2 radionecrosis, 2 traumas and 1 melanoma in lower limb. The used flaps were 14 radial forearm flaps, 13 jejunal flaps, 10 latissimus dorsi muscle flaps, 3 rectus abdominis muscle flaps, 2 lateral arm flaps, 1 scapular flap, and 1 iliac osteocutaneous flap. They had medical problems which were 29 tobacco abuse, 14 hypertensions, 13 alcohol abuse, 10 chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, 7 diabetes mellituses, 3 ischemic heart diseases. All patients have had successful results without specific complications except 3 cases of free flap failure and 3 perioperative death. The causes of 3 flap failures were 2 flap necrosis due to arterial insufficiency and 1 flap loss due to secondary infection. All of these cases were treated with secondary free flap surgery. However 3 patients died perioperatively due to 2 respiratory arrests and 1 sepsis. It was not related to operate microsurgical reconstruction itself, but was correlated with the complication of postoperative care after head and neck surgery. We conclude that plastic surgeons consider the importance of prevention of expected complication as thorough analysis of operative risk factor and appropriate treatment. We had to select the donor and recipient vessel appropriately to perform successful microsurgery in elderly patients and consider vein graft and end-to-side anastomosis to reduce complication if necessary. In addition, we emphasize the importance of pre, peri and postoperative care in head and neck cancer patients to reduce postoperative complication and morbidity.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• 제40권3호
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• pp.180-192
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• 2007

배경: 최근 이종 심장 이식에서 이종항원 및 항체로 인한 초급성 또는 급성 거부반응이 중 또는 대구경의 혈관이나 판막에서는 일어나지 않는다는 보고들이 있다. 이는 이런 부위에서 이종 항원의 발현이 다른 부위보다 낮고 내피세포에 미치는 전단력이 크기 때문인 것으로 알려져 있다. 본 연구에서는 이들 보고를 바탕으로 돼지-염소 모델에서 중 또는 대구경의 혈관에 해당하는 경동맥을 이용한 이종 동맥 이식을 시행하고 정해진 기간 경과 후 이식편을 적출하여 이종 이식 혈관의 생체 내 중, 장기 개통성 및 조직병리학적 변화 양상을 관찰하여 이종 혈관 이식의 생체 내 장기 적합성을 알아보고자 하였다. 대상 및 방법: 10쌍의 돼지-염소 조합을 실험군으로 하여 1주, 1개월, 3개월, 6개월 및 12개월의 정해진 기간으로 나누어 각 기간마다 2마리의 돼지에서 양측 경동맥을 채취하여 얻은 4개의 경동맥편을 다른 처리를 하지 않고 $-70^{\circ}C$에서 보존한 후 2마리의 염소의 양측 경동맥에 각각 이식하였다. 보존 기간은 2일에서 7일로 대부분 7일 이내에 동물 실험을 시행하였다. 이식 후 주기적인 도플러 초음파 검사로 개통성을 평가하였고, 정해진 기간이 경과한 후에 염소에서 이식된 혈관 도관을 적출하여 관찰한 후 hematoxylin-eosin과 Masson's trichrome 염색을 시행하였다. 또한 T 임파구 표식자와 von Willebrand factor에 대한 면역화학염색을 시행하였다. 결과: 실험군 중 1주와 1년으로 정해진 2마리의 염소가 실험 과정과는 무관한 이유로 사망하였고, 나머지 8마리가 실험 종료시점까지 생존하였다. 생존한 8마리의 염소 가운데 3개월로 지정된 염소에서 일측 경동맥의 폐색이 발견되었으나 나머지 염소에서는 혈관의 개통성이 잘 유지되었으며, 동맥류를 형성한 이식편은 없었다. 정해진 기간 별로 적출하여 관찰하였을 때 혈관 문합부위는 잘 보존되어 있었고, 석회화는 관찰되지 않았다. 조직학적 검사에서 이식편의 혈관 내피세포는 이식 1주 후에는 소실되어 있었고, 1개월째에는 수용체인 염소의 내피세포로 재세포화 되는 양상을 보였다. 중막 및 외막에도 염증반응과 함께 수여자의 섬유아세포 및 근섬유아세포가 침윤되는 양상을 보였다. 재내피세포화 과정은 양측 문합 부위에서 시작하여 이식된 혈관의 중간 부위로 진행되는 양상이었으며, vWF에 대한 면역조직화학 염색을 통해 이식 후 1개월에 이식편의 전체에 걸쳐 재내피세포화가 이루어졌음을 관찰할 수 있었다. 신생 내막의 비후와 외막의 염증반응이 이식 후 3개월까지 심하였으나 그 이후에는 감소된 양상을 보였다. 이식 편에서 T 임파구 표식자인 CD3 양성인 세포들의 비율은 매우 낮았다. 결론: 신선 동결된 이종 동맥은 조직학적으로 이종 면역 반응에 큰 영향을 받지 않고 생체 내에서 장기 개통성을 유지하였다.