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Porcine As a Training Module for Head and Neck Microvascular Reconstruction
Published on: September 29, 2018
Chimeric thoracoacromial artery perforator flap for one-staged reconstruction of complex pharyngoesophageal defects:
Dajiang Song1, Georgios Pafitanis2, Luis Eduardo Parra Pont3
1Department of Oncology Plastic Surgery, Hunan Province Cancer Hospital and The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.
Background:
Circumferential hypopharyngeal defects with anterior neck skin loss often require double-stacked or chimeric flaps to achieve good surgical outcomes. The thoracoacromial artery perforator (TAAP) flap is a simple and reliable method for hypopharyngeal defect reconstruction.
Methods:
From March 2012 to February 2015, 19 male patients with an average age of 62 years (range 42-81 years) underwent complex pharyngoesophageal defect reconstruction with chimeric TAAP flaps.
Results:
All 19 male patients who underwent reconstruction with TAAP flaps achieved optimal functional outcomes. All donor sites were closed primarily. The average length of hospital stay was 12.5 days (range 10-19 days). All patients returned back to normal nutrition after 8 weeks postoperatively. The average follow-up period was 19.3 months (range 14-48 months).
Conclusion:
The chimeric TAAP flap is an innovative local alternative solution for reconstruction of complex circumferential hypopharyngeal defects when free tissue transfer is contraindicated or neck vessels are depleted.
