2014 Volume 40 Issue 4 Pages 502-506
In patients with a history of previous neck dissection, recipient vessel dissection can be more challenging because of scarring and fibrosis. Reconstructive surgeons often need to use the contralateral neck recipient vessels. Under a microscope, we safely dissect the ipsilateral neck recipient vessels with a scalpel. A retrospective analysis was performed in Aichi Cancer Center between January 2011 and May 2014 on cases where free flap reconstructions were planned after the resection of oral, oropharyngeal or maxillary cancer. Only 22 patients had undergone previous neck dissections. In 13 out of 22 cases, the ipsilateral recipient vessels were used. In 8 out of 22 cases, the contralateral ones were used. In 1 out of 22 cases, a pedicle flap was used. There were no cases of flap failure. Careful dissection under a microscope makes the ipsilateral neck recipient vessels available even in a scar. The recipient vessels within the vicinity of the defect site offer more alternative flaps and the chance of technical reconstruction.
