2001 Volume 12 Issue 1 Pages 77-81
A 72-year old women underwent total laryngectomy and left radical neck dissection combined with left internal jugular vein (IJV) resection for laryngeal cancer in November 1997. In May 1999, she was readmitted to our hospital because of right cervical lymph node recurrence which probably invaded the right IJV. Tumor invasion to the right IJV was confirmed during resection of recurrent cancer performed on June 14. After systemic heparinization, an internal venous shunt was temporarily made. The right IJV was then venous shunt was temporarily made. The right IJV was then reconstructed using a spiral graft of the great saphenous vein. Cervical ultrasonography confirmed patency of the graft 3 months after surgery. A spiral graft of the great saphenous vein is useful for reconstruction of the IJV after resection for malignancies in the neck.