Kaohsiung Journal of Medical Sciences
Volume 24, Issue 11 , Pages 598-601, November 2008

Reversed-Flow Superior Thyroid Artery: An Alternative Recipient Vessel in Head and Neck Reconstruction

  • Shu-Hung Huang

      Affiliations

    • Divisions of Plastic Surgery, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Sheng-Hua Wu

      Affiliations

    • Department of Anesthesia, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Wen-Her Wang

      Affiliations

    • Divisions of Plastic Surgery, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Mau-Chang Cheen

      Affiliations

    • Divisions of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
    • Faculty of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Cheng-Sheng Lai

      Affiliations

    • Divisions of Plastic Surgery, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
    • Faculty of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Sin-Daw Lin

      Affiliations

    • Divisions of Plastic Surgery, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
    • Faculty of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Kao-Ping Chang

      Affiliations

    • Divisions of Plastic Surgery, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
    • Faculty of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
    • Corresponding Author InformationAddress correspondence and reprint requests to: Dr Kao-Ping Chang, Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, 100 Tzyou 1st Road, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan

Received 4 March 2008; accepted 26 May 2008.

Article Outline

In neoadjuvant intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy patients, the common recipient arteries are frequently damaged owing to preoperative chemotherapy-induced intima injury. When ante-grade arterial inflow to the free flap is not available, end-to-side carotid arterial anastomosis or exploration of another recipient artery may be an appropriate solution. However, reversed arterial flow is an alternative to such a situation. We report a case with squamous cell carcinoma on the right buccal area, which was successfully reconstructed using a free anterolateral thigh flap with reverse superior thyroid arterial inflow. This alternative method might shorten the operation time and also reduce further exploration injury in the operation field.

Key Words:  anterolateral thigh flaps , head and neck reconstruction , reverse artery flow

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References 

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PII: S1607-551X(09)70021-X

doi:10.1016/S1607-551X(09)70021-X

Kaohsiung Journal of Medical Sciences
Volume 24, Issue 11 , Pages 598-601, November 2008

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