Unfavorable Results of Head and Neck Reconstructive Cases Due to Complications of Microvascular Anastomosis Requiring Surgical Salvage

Abstract

In this paper, a review of unfavorable head and neck reconstructive cases due to the complication of microvascular anastomosis at our institute is described. Between 2004 and 2014, the total number of head and neck reconstructive cases in which free flaps and microvascular augmentation were performed as team surgery was 239. In this series, 11 cases ( 4.4% ) required secondary surgical salvage due to postoperative thrombosis at the anastomosed site. Finally, 9 flaps failed and the rate of total necrosis of free flaps was 3.8%. Evaluation of the causes and methods of surgical salvage in cases with unfavorable results is very important for future advances and improvements in reconstructive surgery.