Four Lessons Learned from Complications in Head and Neck Microvascular Reconstructions and Prevention Strategies

Overview

Journal Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open

Specialty General Surgery

Date 2021 Feb 10

PMID 33564573

Citations 6

Authors

Luis Vieira

Daniel Isacson

Eleonora O F Dimovska

Andres Rodriguez-Lorenzo

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Methods: Acknowledging and predicting high risk intra- and postoperative situations and having planned strategies on how to deal with them can decrease their rate and improve the patient's reconstructive journey.

Results: Herein, the authors present 4 examples of significant complications in complex microvascular head and neck cancer reconstruction, encountered for the last 10 years: compression and kinking of the vascular pedicle, lack of planning of external skin coverage in osteoradionecrosis, management of the vessel-depleted neck, and vascular donor site morbidity after fibula harvest.

Conclusion: The authors reflect on the causes and propose preventative strategies in each peri-operative stage.

Citing Articles

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Comprehensive review of post-treatment imaging in head and neck cancers: from expected to unexpected and beyond.

Chakrabarty N, Mahajan A, Agrawal A, Prabhash K, DCruz A Br J Radiol. 2024; 97(1164):1898-1914.

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The use of artificial intelligence in reconstructive surgery for head and neck cancer: a systematic review.

Devault-Tousignant C, Harvie M, Bissada E, Christopoulos A, Tabet P, Guertin L Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2024; 281(11):6057-6068.

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Early Second Free Flap is Required in Osteoradionecrosis-related Nonunion after Primary Mandible Reconstruction.

Tee R, Schweizer R, Gomez-Martinez-de-Lecea C, Kildal V, Thor A, Rodriguez-Lorenzo A Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2023; 11(6):e5024.

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Secondary Reconstruction of Head and Neck Cancer Defects-Principles in its Practice.

Iyer S, Ramu J, Krishnadas A J Maxillofac Oral Surg. 2023; 22(Suppl 1):1-9.

PMID: 37041953 PMC: 10082886. DOI: 10.1007/s12663-023-01875-x.

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