Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 27, 2026
Porcine As a Training Module for Head and Neck Microvascular Reconstruction
Published on: September 29, 2018
Internal Mammary Artery Perforator-Supercharged Prefabricated Cervicothoracic Flap for Face and Neck Reconstruction
Guang-Shuai Li1, Tao Zan, Qing-Feng Li
1From the *Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou; and †Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Ninth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
Background:
Prefabricated flap is an important technique to reconstruct massive face and neck skin defects. But its vascularization remains unpredictable and often leads to abnormal blood supply of the harvested flap, even necrosis. Flap supercharging and turbo supercharging techniques are effectively used to improve flap blood supply. However, few studies have been reported on the application of these techniques in prefabricated induced expanded flaps.
Methods:
From March 2008 to September 2012, 13 patients who have face and neck soft tissue defects were treated with prefabricated cervicothoracic flap. To overcome insufficient blood supply, 5 of them received additional microvascular augmentation in which the second or third perforator of the internal mammary artery (IMAP) and its venae comitantes were anastomosed to facial or superficial temporal vessels, contrary to the remaining 8 patients. The following results were compared: flap viability, hospital stay, complications, frequency of dressing change, reoperation rate, and remaining scars.
Results:
No flap necrosis was observed in patients who received the supercharging procedure. By contrast, of the 8 patients who were not treated with supercharging technique, various degrees of flap necrosis occurred in 3 patients, 2 of whom received secondary operations. The frequency of dressing changes, the hospital stay, and hospital cost were reduced. Postoperative view showed better aesthetic restoration.
Conclusions:
The IMAP-supercharged cervicothoracic flap technique offers a reliable method for massive face and neck reconstruction. We recommended that the IMAP should always be preserved in the flap as a saving option for potential flap congestion or arterial insufficiency.
