Various recently developed reconstructive procedures have made it possible to surgically treat advanced head and neck cancers that were previously considered inoperable. From 1979 through March,1992, we extensively removed cancers followed by reconstruction from 120 patients (153 cases), the results of which are presented herein. For reconstruction, we used the myocutaneous or cutaneous flaps in 111, alimentary tract in 38, and rib or iliac bone graft in four cases. In the first reconstruction,16 of the 121 cases (13.2%) were unsuccessful. Among them free flaps were utilized in nine cases. It is important to improve the surgical techniques, and also to prevent postoperative bleeding and infection.
