Ateriovenous subclavia-shunt for head and neck reconstruction

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Reconstruction of the facial hard- and soft tissues is of special concern for the rehabilitation of patients especially after ablative tumor surgery has been performed. Impaired soft and hard tissue conditions as a sequelae of extensive surgical resection and/or...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Kübler Norbert R, Meyer Ulrich, Naujoks Christian D, Depprich Rita A, Handschel Jörg G
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2008-11-01
Series:Head & Face Medicine
Online Access:http://www.head-face-med.com/content/4/1/27
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Summary:<p>Abstract</p> <p>Reconstruction of the facial hard- and soft tissues is of special concern for the rehabilitation of patients especially after ablative tumor surgery has been performed. Impaired soft and hard tissue conditions as a sequelae of extensive surgical resection and/or radiotherapy may impede common reconstruction methodes. Even free flaps may not be used without interposition of a vein graft as recipient vessels are not available as a consequence of radical neck dissection.</p> <p>We describe the reconstruction of the facial hard- and soft tissues with a free parasacpular flap in a patient who had received ablative tumor surgery and radical cervical lymphadenectomy as a treatment regimen for squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). To replace the missing cervical blood vessels an arteriovenous subclavia-shunt using a saphena magna graft was created. Microvascular free flap transfer was performed as a 2-stage procedure two weeks after the shunt operation. The microvascular reconstructive technique is described in detail.</p>
ISSN:1746-160X