• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.164-169
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• 2003

Background and Objectives: The reconstruction is very important in Head and neck cancer surgery to repair the defect created by resection of tumors, to enable successful wound healing, to restore function and to provide acceptable cosmesis. The radial forearm free flap has been the most useful reconstructive flap because it provides a moderate amount of thin, pliable, relatively hairless skin and comparatively simple to do with minimal morbidity. The aims of this study is to estimate the outcome of the reconstruction with radial forearm free flap with the several factors in 140 head and neck cancer cases in our hospital for last 10 years. Materials and Methods: Retrospective review of the records of 140 patients underwent resection of the head and neck tumors and reconstruction with a radial forearm free flap from 1993 to 2003. The age, sex of the patients, Primary site, the complication of donor and recipient site, flap survival rate, median time to start diet, patient subjective symtoms about swallowing and articulating and the fact of revision reconstructive surgery were analyzed. Results: In primary pathologic site, 56 cases were oral cavity cancers, 44 cases, oropharyngeal cancers and 22 cases, hypopharyngeal cancers. Flap survival rate was 93.6% (13 leases). On donor site, wound dehiscence, hematoma, sensory change and infection were noted and on recipient site, most common complication were fistula and wound dehiscence. The complication rate of recipient's site was 19.1 % and donor site, 3.5%. In 118 cases (84.3%), the patients could take all kinds of food. Swallowing difficulty were noted in 22 cases 05.7%). In 5 cases, there was articulation difficulty but most of patients except patients having total laryngectomy (18 cases) couldn't have any difficulty in articulation and speaking. Conclusion: We conclude that the radial forearm free flap is the most appropriate reconstructive material for treating the defect in head and neck reconstruction.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.360-364
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• 2005

The anterolateral thigh flap was originally described in 1984 as a septocutaneous flap based on the descending branch of the lateral circumflex artery. This flap has some significant advantages for reconstruction of the head and neck. It can be raised as a subcutaneous flap, a fasciocutaneous flap, or a myocutaneous flap and can resurface large defects in the head and neck. In addition, it has a large and long vascular pedicle, and because of the distance of the donor site from the head and neck, it can easily be harvested with a 2-team approach. However, the number and locations of cutaneous perforators vary individually, and thus, it is not widely used because flap elevation is often complicated and time-consuming owing to unexpected anatomical variations. The purposes of this study are to classify the vascular anatomy and to assess the suitability of anterolateral thigh flap for head and neck reconstruction in Korean. We performed an anatomic study on cadavers and analyzed the anatomic pattern of the lateral circumflex femoral arterial system and the perforators nourishing the anterolateral thigh flap. This study suggest the characteristics of vascular anatomic patterns of anterolateral thigh flap of Korean and utility of this flap for head and neck reconstruction.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.48 no.5
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• pp.511-517
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• 2021

The use of free flaps is an essential and reliable method of reconstruction in complex head and neck defects. Flap failure remains the most feared complication, the most common cause being pedicle thrombosis. Among other measures, thrombolysis is useful when manual thrombectomy has failed to restore flap perfusion, in the setting of late or established thrombosis, or in arterial thrombosis with distal clot propagation. We report a case of pedicle arterial thrombosis with distal clot propagation which occurred during reconstruction of a maxillectomy defect, and was successfully treated with thrombolysis using recombinant tissue plasminogen activator. We also review the literature regarding the use of thrombolysis in free flap surgery, and propose an algorithm for the salvage of free flaps in head and neck reconstruction.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.359-370
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• 1994

The reconstruction of major head and neck defects must be an integral part of the overall cancer treatment plan. The priorities of surgical treatment of head and neck tumor are 1) local tumor control, 2) relief of pain, 3) avoidance of difficult dressing, 4) provision of oral continence, and 5) ability to swallow and manage saliva. The recent advances in reconstructive surgery including the development of musculocutaneous flaps and microvascular free tissue transfer have allowed the surgical restoration of head and neck tumor defects that previously were not possible. These techniques have provided the opportunity to undertake larger, more aggressive resection while at the same time permitting functional rehabilitation. The timing of reconstruction demands on the nature of the resection, the ability of the ablative and reconstructive teams to coordinate efforts, the overall health of the patients, the patient's needs and wishes. So, we report to emphasize current methods for restoring major head and neck tumor defects after tumor ablation, reviewing for the reconstructive operations, postoperative complications, and postoperative sequelae etc, of patients from Jan, 1990 to Dec, 1993.

• 대한두경부종양학회:학술대회논문집
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• 1996.06a
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• pp.113-115
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• 1996

• 대한두경부종양학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2000.05a
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• pp.121-124
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• 2000

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.64-70
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• 2022

Background: Anterolateral thigh (ALT) flaps are versatile soft tissue flaps that have become the standard soft-tissue flaps used for head and neck reconstruction. They provide a long vascular pedicle, constant vessel diameter, abundant soft tissue coverage, and minimal donor site morbidity. The ALT flap was initially designed on the basis of a septocutaneous (SC) perforator. However, more recent research has shown that a substantial number of ALT flaps are now based on musculocutaneous (MC) perforators, and the ratio between MC and SC perforators varies among studies. In this study, we analyzed the perforating pattern of ALT flaps along with their clinical outcomes during head and neck reconstruction in the Korean population. Methods: From October 2016 to July 2020, 68 patients who had undergone an ALT flap procedure for head and neck reconstruction were enrolled retrospectively. The perforating pattern of the cutaneous perforator vessel (MC perforator/SC perforator/oblique branch), pedicle length, and flap size were analyzed intraoperatively. Patient demographics and flap necrosis rates were also calculated. Results: The highest number of cutaneous perforator vessels supplying the ALT flap were the MC perforators (87%). The proportion of MC perforators was significantly higher than that of the SC perforators and oblique branches. Flap necrosis occurred in seven cases (11.86%); sex, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, perforator course, and history of radiotherapy did not significantly affect flap necrosis. Conclusion: The ALT free flap procedure remains popular for reconstruction of the head and neck. In this study, we observed that the majority of cutaneous vessels supplying the flaps were MC perforators (87%). When using the MC perforator during flap elevation, careful dissection of the perforator is required to achieve successful ALT flaps because intramuscular dissection is difficult. Perforator pattern and history of radiotherapy did not affect flap necrosis.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.53-56
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• 2017

Pharyngocutaneous fistula is one of the most common wound complications after total laryngectomy. The leakage of saliva may cause an erosion of greater vessels nearby and result in a life-threatening bleeding. 65-year-old male received laryngectomy and pharyngectomy followed by Latissimus dorsi flap reconstruction due to recurred laryngeal cancer with oropharyngeal extension after postoperative radiotherapy. Pharyngeal fistula was developed and an excessive fresh blood flowed through the oral and nasal cavity. The patient was transferred to the operating room immediately, and the causing artery was ligated. The rupture of the common carotid artery and its branches should be warned when the pharyngocutaneous fistula is developed. Prompt and proper therapy must be performed for the patients with impending or acute hemorrhage.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.92-98
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• 1991

Numerous mycoutaneous island flaps or free flaps have been used to reconstruct a defect which resulted from the wide resection of tumor mass in head and neck region. Since the curative resection of tumor usually include muscles and bones as well as skin and mucosa, the anatomical and functional restoration of the defect depend on which and what amount of tissues were provided to cover the defect; good aesthetic appearance subsequently follows the result. Furthermore, a simultaneous neck nodes dissection usually results in exposure of major neck vessels., which should be protected with sufficient padding. The ideal method to reconstruct a defect in the head and neck region requires a sufficient coverage by muscle layer with good vascularity, a wide arc of rotation, and minimization of donor site defect. The pectoralis major myocutaneous flap which was first decribed by Ariyan and lateral trapezius myocutaneous flap by Demergasso meet these criteria. We describe the use of these myocutaneous flaps in reconstruction of mandible and oral cavity.

• The Journal of the Korean dental association
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• v.49 no.9
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• pp.535-548
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• 2011

The anterolateral thigh flap(ALT flap) was originally described in 1984 as a septocutaneous nap based on the descending branch of the lateral circumflex artery. This nap has some significant advantages for reconstruction of the head and neck. It can be raised as a subcutaneous flap, a fasciocutaneous nap, or a myocutaneous nap and can resurface large defects in the head and neck. In addition, it has a large and long vascular pedicle, and because of the distance of the donor site from the head and neck, it can easily be harvested with a two-team approach. However, the number and locations of cutaneous perforators vary individually, and thus, it is not widely used because nap elevation is often complicated and time-consuming owing to unexpected anatomical variations. The purposes of this study are to clarify the vascular anatomy and to assess the suitability of anterolateral thigh nap for oral cavity reconstruction in Koreans. In addition, we used anterolateral thigh free nap for oral cavity reconstruction in 20 oral cancer patients from 2006 to 2011. Through our clinical experience, we discuss a series of practical "pearls and pitfalls". Our experience has not only given us new flap choice using anterolateral thigh nap in oral cavity reconstruction, but also given us a new possibility on the applicability of chimeric naps.