Minimally invasive techniques of tissue harvest in head and neck reconstruction

Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) is a revolutionary method of performing complex invasive procedures with minimal direct surgical exposure. This type of surgery requires specially designed instruments and video imaging of the surgical field. A variety of surgical specialties are developing MIS procedures with anticipated decreased morbidity and cost of surgery. At the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, we have explored the use of these techniques to harvest jejunal segments and the rectus abdominis and latissimus dorsi muscles, donor tissues useful in head and neck reconstruction. It is possible to successfully harvest these flaps using MIS, thus making available the potential benefits of MIS to head and neck cancer patients.