Abstract
The omental flap is useful for reconstructive surgery. It is used extensively to cover difficult, infected wounds or complex cavities. A composite stomach-omental flap was used for reconstruction of head and neck.
The composite full-thickness gastric wall and omental flap was used in 2 cases. One was reconstruction of the buccal mucosa, and the other was reconstruction of the oral base. In the case of reconstruction of the oral base, the flap was used as a bridge flap, that is, the distal end of the right gastroepiploic vessels was anastomosed to the vessels of the free fibula flap. The composite gastric seromuscular patch and omental flap was used in 2 cases. One was a case of cerebrospinal fluid leakage, and the other was that of defect of the orbit.
The composite stomach-omental flap is useful for the reconstruction of head and neck not only because it has a long pedicle of vessels but also because it can provide an immediate airtight or watertight seal. Furthermore, it is useful for the reconstruction of difficult and complex defects because it can be used as a bridge flap.
