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A Salvage Operation for Flap Compromise Following Internal Jugular Venous Thrombosis
Abstract
The internal jugular vein (IJV) has been described as the optimal recipient vessel in oral and maxillofacial microsurgical rehabilitation and reconstruction. However, few studies have been reported on IJV thrombosis, which could compromise flap survival. In the current study, a case of flap vascular crisis following IJV thrombosis is presented, and salvage operation as a management strategy is discussed. Although rare, surgeons specializing in oral and maxillofacial microsurgical reconstruction should be aware of the possibility of the occurrence of this condition, considering early surgical intervention is critical.
... Compared to other veins, end-to-side anastomosis with the IJV has been reported to offer numerous advantages for the venous circulation of the free flap, 15 but several microsurgeons have reported disruptions in the venous circulation of the free flap induced by IJVT. [16][17][18][19][20] Considering the concerns of free flap loss, the preventive methods for IJVT with a motive to rescue the free flap from venous circulation crisis have been extensively discussed. 12 , 14 However, a few reports have described the necessity of treatment for asymptomatic IJVT 9 , 10 . ...
Background
Free flap failure secondary to internal jugular vein thrombosis (IJVT) is a significant complication after head and neck reconstructive surgery. A consensus has not yet been reached among reconstructive surgeons regarding the treatment of IJVT.
Methods
We retrospectively evaluated the incidence of IJVT in 118 patients who underwent free flap reconstruction at Hyogo Cancer Center, Akashi, Japan. The occurrence of IJVT-related flap circulation crisis and pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) was studied. This study was approved by the institutional ethics committee, and written informed consent was obtained from each patient.
Results
From 118 patients who underwent head and neck reconstructive surgery, we included 116 internal jugular veins (IJVs) preserved after neck dissection in the present study. IJVT was confirmed in 25 (21.6%) IJVs from 23 patients. One patient (0.8%) developed venous congestion due to IJVT, which resulted in total flap necrosis. Two patients (1.7%) exhibited PTE associated with IJVT. They were treated with direct oral anticoagulants for 3 months and were discharged without any sequelae.
Conclusion
Our results suggest that IJVT after head and neck reconstructive surgery caused not only flap circulation crisis but also PTE. Reconstructive surgeons should be aware of the potential risks due to serious complications associated with IJVT.
... Notably, vascular anastomosis is required in a free tissue flap; therefore, it is of great importance to detect vascular crisis in the anastomotic blood vessels at the early stage, and to carry out surgical exploration and treatment immediately for achieving successful operation. The delayed discovery of vascular crisis or the presence of the more serious vascular crisis may result in complete necrosis of the free transplanted tissue flap, thereby inducing severe consequences [4][5][6][7][8][9]. In this study, to avoid serious consequences induced by the vascularized fibular osteomyocutaneous flap with severe vascular crisis, the vascularized fibular osteomyocutaneous flaps in two cases with severe vascular crisis were immediately managed using the non-vascularized fibular grafts. ...
Background:
A vascularized fibular osteomyocutaneous flap with severe vascular crisis often results in serious consequences. This study aims to examine the clinical effect of non-vascularized fibular graft on patients with severe vascular crisis after reconstruction of the defect jaw with vascularized fibular osteomyocutaneous flap.
Materials and methods:
From December 2007 to December 2018, a total of 104 patients with jaw neoplasms that underwent reconstruction with free vascularized fibular flap were retrospectively analyzed; seven of these cases had postoperative vascular crisis during mandibular reconstruction.
Results:
Of the seven cases with postoperative vascular crisis, the vascularized fibular flaps in three patients survived completely, thanks to early detection; two cases were completely necrotic and removed in the end, and the remaining two cases had severe vascular crisis after the removal of the soft tissue attached to the fibular flap. The non-vascular fibular grafts were retained regardless of the severe absorption after follow-ups for 25 and 69 months, respectively.
Conclusions:
If vascular crisis occurs following jaw reconstruction with a vascularized fibular osteomyocutaneous flap, early re-surgical exploration effectively improves the salvage rate. In addition, when a severe vascular crisis occurs, the vascularized fibular flap can be changed to a non-vascular fibular graft to reconstruct the mandibular defect, thus avoiding the serious consequences resulting from the complete failure of fibular graft.
Background:
A principal reason for flap compromise in oral and maxillofacial head and neck surgery, and failure of a free flap transfer, is thrombosis of a drainage vein such as the internal jugular vein. This study characterized flap compromise caused by internal jugular vein thrombosis after a free flap transfer, and its management.
Patients and methods:
A retrospective clinical study was conducted of 306 consecutive microvascular free flaps performed for 305 patients with head and neck cancer from March 2003 to March 2013 at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at Beijing Stomatological Hospital, Capital Medical University.
Results:
Vascular thrombosis developed postoperatively in 18 of the 306 free flaps (5.9%): 1 arterial and 17 venous. Of the latter, in 10 patients the thrombosis occurred at the anastomosis site; in 7 patients internal jugular vein thrombosis was detected during emergent reexploration (4 radial forearm free flaps, 1 fibular flap, and 2 anterior lateral thigh flaps). The 4 cases involving radial forearm free flaps were salvaged successfully by venous transfer to bridge the reflow vein to the anterior jugular vein, or removal of the thrombosis in the internal jugular vein and re-anastomosis. The remaining 3 cases of internal jugular vein thrombosis were not salvaged: 2 defects were reconstructed with major pectoralis myocutaneous flaps, and the other was closed directly without reconstruction.
Conclusions:
In oral and maxillofacial head and neck cancer surgery, postoperative thrombosis of the internal jugular vein can result in failure of the free flap transfer.
Purpose:
The vascular anastomosis of free flap with the internal jugular vein stump is susceptible to thrombosis, thus resulting in flap compromise or failure. This study aims to explore the method of longitudinal contraction venoplasty in the prevention of internal jugular vein stump thrombosis after free flap vascular anastomosis and its feasibility.
Patients and methods:
A retrospective review was performed of 16 patients who underwent internal jugular vein resection because of cancer ablation and longitudinal contraction venoplasty to prevent internal jugular vein stump thrombosis after free flap vascular anastomosis from January 2013 through December 2014 at Second Xiangya Hospital. The methods for longitudinal contraction venoplasty and its efficacy are reported.
Results:
Venous anastomosis of all flaps was performed with the internal jugular vein stump, and single venous anastomosis was made in all cases. Postoperatively, all flaps survived completely, without vascular compromise. All the patients were followed for approximately 9 to 33 months, and they were satisfied with the esthetic and functional results of the donor and recipient sites after reconstruction.
Conclusions:
Longitudinal contraction venoplasty may be an effective new method for prevention of internal jugular vein thrombosis after free flap vascular anastomosis.
Several studies have reported on the incidence, risk factors, and clinical presentation of internal jugular vein thrombosis (IJVT). The impact of IJVT could be critical in patients who undergo microvascular head and neck reconstruction. In our current study, a case of IJVT following free flap soft palate reconstruction is presented, in which 2 veins of radial forearm flap were draining into the IJV with a blind cephalic end. Thrombosis occurred at the sixth postoperative day when the patient's hemodynamic status changed after discontinuation of cardiac inotropics and vasopressors. The pathophysiology as well as the clinical significance of IJVT for microvascular head and neck reconstruction is discussed with focus on the selection of the recipient vein in free flap surgery.
Free flap success rates are in excess of 95%. Vascular occlusion (thrombosis) remains the primary reason for flap loss, with venous thrombosis being more common than arterial occlusion. The majority of flap failures occur within the first 48 hours. With early recognition and intervention of flap compromise salvage is possible. Successful salvage rates range from 28% to over 90%. Rapid re-exploration in this clinical setting is crucial to maximise the chances of flap salvage. If salvage is not feasible or unsuccessful then non-surgical methods of salvage may be employed with some possibility of success. The purpose of this article is to review the causes of free flap failure and to highlight the available options for salvage.
Twenty-seven patients with oral malignant tumours, who underwent neck dissection with preservation of the internal jugular vein (IJV), were studied retrospectively to evaluate patency of the IJV. Twenty-three patients underwent ablative surgery of the primary lesion with neck dissection and 4 underwent neck dissection alone. Three patients received simple closure and skin grafting of the primary lesion, and 20 received reconstruction surgery (4 platysma flaps, 3 radial forearm flaps, 3 lateral upper arm flaps, 2 pectoralis major myocutaneous flaps and 8 rectus abdominis myocutaneous flaps). The maximum and minimum diameters of the IJV as measured on computed tomographic (CT) scans were used to assess patency. The cross-sectional area of the IJV and the ratio of its long axis to short axis (L/S ratio) were calculated. The relation between the change in IJV status and the type of flap used for reconstruction was also examined. Occlusion of the IJV was present in 3.7% of the patients, and 'narrowing' was present in 63.6%. The size of the flap significantly correlated with 'narrowing' of the IJV, suggesting that 'narrowing' was caused mainly by compression due to the flap.
Background
The incidence of internal jugular vein thrombosis (IJVT) following a modified neck dissection remains uncertain. The effect of, or consequences following, IJVT upon pedicled and free flap head and neck reconstructions remains unexplored.Methods
Twenty-nine preserved internal jugular veins in 24 patients undergoing modified neck dissection were available for prospective study. All patients required a pedicled or free flap reconstruction and received a modified, unilateral or bilateral cervical lymphadenectomy. The patency of all jugular veins was determined preoperatively and postoperatively using a combination of computed tomography (CT) scanning, high-resolution ultrasound, and color-flow Doppler (CFD).ResultsThe IJVT rate was 14%. The presence of a pedicled myocutaneous flap and left-sided jugular dissections may represent risks to the postoperative patency of the internal jugular vein. Preoperative radiotherapy did not appear to impact negatively upon the thrombosis rate.Conclusions
Thrombosis of the internal jugular vein may result in significant morbidity for the postoperative oncologic patient. An internal jugular-dependent-free-tissue transfer may risk venous compromise of the flap, whereas the use of a pedicled flap may place the jugular at increased risk for thrombosis. Strategies for deep venous system microvascular recipient recruitment in the head and neck are discussed. Wherever possible, we employ two deep venous systems, the internal jugular, and subclavian (via the external jugular) for flap drainage. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Head Neck 20: 169–174, 1998.
Twenty-five patients on whom 27 functional neck dissections were performed for upper aerodigestive tract squamous carcinoma were prospectively investigated to determine the frequency of venous thrombosis on the side of the neck dissection. Retrograde venography, performed within 1 month postoperatively, was used to determine the status of the internal jugular vein.
Nineteen veins were patent at venography, but ipsilateral occlusion was demonstrated in 8. In 5 of the 8 patients, venous thrombosis followed major wound sepsis or fistula formation. No causes for the remaining 3 cases of internal jugular vein thromboses were identified. Possible mechanisms for “spontaneous” internal jugular vein occlusion following functional neck dissection are endothelial trauma, reduction in venous flow during anesthesia, and the altered coagulability profile of some cancer patients.
The finding that functional neck dissection does not always maintain patency of the internal jugular vein is especially important when surgical treatment to the opposite side of the neck is planned, as the surgeon may be faced with an unexpectedly complicated postoperative course.
The objective of this study was to determine the immediate patency rate for internal jugular veins preserved in functional neck dissections. Thirteen patients had contrast-enhanced CT scans 2 to 4 weeks postoperatively. Ten veins were patent and had a diameter comparable to that seen on the preoperative scan; one vein was narrowed but patent; two were occluded. Probable factors associated with occlusion include trauma of the vessel and extrinsic compression of the vein by the skin or myocutaneous flaps.
Objectives:
To assess the patency and flow of the internal jugular vein after functional neck dissection.
Study design:
Prospective study of 54 internal jugular veins in 29 oncologic patients undergoing functional neck dissection between September 1994 and February 1997.
Methods:
Patency, presence of thrombosis, characteristics of the vein wall, compressibility, area of the vein both in rest and during Valsalva maneuver, expiratory flow speed, Valsalva flow speed, jugular flow in each side, and total jugular flow were assessed in all veins before and after dissection. All patients were evaluated before and after the procedure by means of duplex Doppler ultrasonography.
Results:
In no case was there thrombosis before or after the operation. Although total jugular flow decreases during the early postoperative period, it recovers to normal parameters within 3 months after surgery.
Conclusions:
According to these results, the patency of the internal jugular vein remains unaltered after functional neck dissection. Ultrasonographically there is no thrombosis after this procedure.
We present a retrospective analysis of 106 radial forearm free flaps (RFFFs) using double venous anastomoses as performed at Northampton General Hospital over an 11-year period. The aim was to assess the failure rate and salvage rate for venous thrombosis of these flaps.
RFFFs were raised with the cephalic vein where possible. The cephalic vein and 1 venae commitantes or 2 venae commitantes (VC) were anastomosed using microscope assistance. The veins were anastomosed end to side on to the internal jugular vein (IJV). Data was collected from patient notes using a proforma and entered onto an Access database.
Of the 106 RFFFs there was 1 (0.94%) failure at day 9, a presumed arterial failure. None of the 106 RFFFs were returned to theatre for salvage for venous thrombosis.
Our results compare favourably with similar published data. Comparable studies gave a mean failure rate of 4% (range of 0-10%) and 7% (range 3-12.5%). We believe our results are due to: 1--Double venous anastomosis, 2--end to side anastomosis to the IJV using deep and superficial systems, 3--initial anastomosis of the cephalic vein low in the neck to shorten ischaemic time. 4--overnight sedation and ventilation of the patient on the intensive care unit.
We examined the internal jugular veins in three groups of patients who had undergone (1) a functional neck dissection and radiotherapy, (2) a functional neck dissection alone, or (3) radiotherapy alone, using a noninvasive color Doppler ultrasound scan. The internal jugular veins were ultrasonically bilaterally normal in 18% of patients who had undergone a functional neck dissection and radiotherapy, in 88% of patients who had undergone a functional neck dissection alone, and in 57% of patients who had undergone radiotherapy alone. The combination of a functional neck dissection and radiotherapy significantly affected the internal jugular vein when compared with a functional neck dissection alone.
To determine the incidence of internal jugular vein thrombosis after functional or selective neck dissection.
Patients underwent serial Doppler ultrasonographic examinations of their internal jugular veins, on postoperative days 1 and 7, following functional neck dissection. Long-term follow-up was conducted at a minimum of 3 months.
Department of Otolaryngology, West Virginia University, Morgantown.
Sixty-five patients (51 men and 14 women) underwent 100 functional neck dissections between 1993 and 1995. Thirty-five patients had N0, 10 had N1, and 20 had N2 node involvement, respectively. Thirty-five patients underwent bilateral neck dissection, 17 underwent left neck dissection, and 13 underwent right neck dissection.
Thrombosis of the internal jugular veins was determined using duplex Doppler scanning. Correlation with the length of the procedure, intraoperative blood loss, preoperative radiation therapy, stage of neck disease, presence of extracapsular spread, wound infection, and pedicled musculocutaneous flap closure was determined.
Of the 100 internal jugular veins studied, 20 (24.7%) of 81 and 19 (26.4%) of 72 were found to have evidence of thrombosis on postoperative days 1 and 7, respectively. On long-term follow-up, the incidence of internal jugular vein thrombosis was significantly lower (5.8%; P < .001). None of the variables examined correlated significantly with the presence of thrombosis. Of the 20 veins that were thrombosed initially, on follow-up 13 had normal flow and 2 had persistent thrombosis. Five patients were unavailable for follow-up. No thrombosis developed as a late finding.
Our results indicate that even though the incidence of internal jugular vein thrombosis is relatively high immediately following neck dissection, a significant number of these veins will undergo recanalization and have excellent long-term patency.
Over a 6-month period, 23 members of the International Microvascular Research Group participated in a prospective survey of their microvascular free-flap practice. Data were recorded with each case for 60 variables covering patient characteristics, surgical technique, pharmacologic treatment, and postoperative outcome. A total of 493 free flaps were reported with a representative demographic distribution for age, sex, indications for surgery, risk factors, flap type, surgical technique, and pharmacologic intervention. Mixed effects logistic regression modeling was used to determine predictors of flap failure and associated complications. The overall incidence of flap failure was 4.1 percent (20 of 493). Reconstruction of an irradiated recipient site and the use of a skin-grafted muscle flap were the only statistically significant predictors of flap failure, with increased odds of failure of 4.2 (p = 0.01) and 11.1 (p = 0.03), respectively. A postoperative thrombosis requiring re-exploration surgery occurred in 9.9 percent of the flaps. The incidence of this complication was significantly higher when the flap was transferred to a chronic wound and when vein grafts were needed, with increased odds of failure of 2.9 (p = 0.02) and 2.5 (p = 0.02), respectively. There was a lower incidence of postoperative thrombosis when rectus/transverse rectus abdominis muscle (TRAM) flaps were used, where odds of failure decreased by 0.36 (p = 0.04), and when subcutaneous heparin was administered in the postoperative period, where odds decreased by 0.27 (p = 0.04). There was an overall 69-percent salvage rate for flaps identified with a postoperative thrombosis. Intraoperative thrombosis occurred in 41 cases (8.3 percent) and was observed more frequently in myocutaneous flaps or when vein grafts were needed (5.5 and 5.0 greater odds, respectively; p < 0.001) but was not associated with higher flap failure (2 of 41 cases; 4.9-percent failure rate). The incidence of a hematoma and/or hemorrhage was increased in obese patients and when vein grafts were needed [2.7 (p = 0.02) and 2.6 (p = 0.03) greater odds, respectively], whereas this complication was significantly decreased in muscle flaps (myocutaneous or skin-grafted muscle), in tobacco users, when a heparinized solution was used for general wound irrigation, and when the attending surgeon performed the arterial anastomosis (in contrast to the resident or fellow on staff) (p < 0.05 for each factor). With the multivariable analysis, many factors were found not to have a significant effect on flap outcome, including the recipient site (e.g., head/neck, breast, lower limb, etc.); indications for surgery (trauma, cancer, etc.); flap transfer in extremes of age, smokers, or diabetics; arterial anastomosis with an end-to-end versus end-to-side technique; irrigation of the vessel without or with heparin added to the irrigation solution; and a wide spectrum of antithrombotic drug therapies. These results present a current baseline for free-flap surgery to which future advances and improvements in technique and practice may be compared.
The purpose of this study was to review the reliability of the internal jugular vein when used as a recipient vein in oral microvascular reconstruction.
A retrospective study was done of 36 consecutive cases in which microvascular reconstruction was accomplished with a free flap using the internal jugular vein in an end-to-side fashion. The postoperative patency of 25 internal jugular veins used as recipient veins was examined by postcontrast computed tomography scanning.
The overall flap success rate was 97%. Venous thromboses occurred in 2 cases. A common venous thrombosis occurred in one case, but the flap survived after re-anastomosis. In another case, internal jugular vein thrombosis occurred at 5 days of anastomosis, and the flap could not be salvaged by exploratory surgery. All other cases were completely uneventful. All internal jugular veins assessed on postcontrast computed tomography scans were patent at 51 to 107 days after surgery (mean, 89 days).
Internal jugular vein, if available, is reliable when used as a recipient vein in oral microvascular reconstruction. However, it is not necessarily flawless.
Microvascular free flaps are becoming the reconstructive option of choice for many head and neck defects. Many previous studies have examined factors predicting free flap survival. No study has compared differences in free flap survival when anastomosed to the internal or external jugular systems.
Retrospective review of all free flaps performed at an academic medical center by a single head and neck microvascular surgeon during the period July 1995 to December 1999. Flaps were closely monitored postoperatively and taken back to the operating room urgently for arterial insufficiency or venous congestion.
On hundred fifty-six free flaps were performed during this time period. Sixty-five free flaps were anastomosed to the external jugular (EJ) vein and 86 to the IJ system (62 to the proximal common facial vein, 17 end-side on the IJ, and 7 to other branches). Five had either two venous anastomoses or were anastomosed to other veins and were excluded from statistical analysis. Six (4%) vascular thromboses occurred; 5 were venous and 1 arterial. Success by group was 99% for IJ anastomosis (1 arterial thrombosis) and 92% for EJ anastomosis (5 venous thromboses, p =.03). Urgent anastomotic revision and reperfusion salvaged 5 of the 6 flaps (overall success 99%).
Although the overall success rate (96% success with 99% success with salvage) is comparable to other large series, microvascular free flaps anastomosed to the external jugular vein failed at a significantly higher rate than those anastomosed to the IJ system. This suggests that the IJ system should be used as a recipient vessel when feasible.
The internal jugular vein has been the preferred recipient vein in head and neck microsurgical reconstruction. However, recent reports have demonstrated internal jugular vein occlusion after functional neck dissection. The purpose of this article is to demonstrate and discuss the possibility of recipient internal jugular vein occlusion after free tissue transfer. Of 58 patients who received an end-to-side venous anastomosis with the internal jugular vein, four cases of recipient internal jugular vein occlusion were detected during the early postoperative period. Although the success rate of end-to-side anastomosis with the internal jugular vein may be high, microsurgeons should be aware of the possibility of internal jugular vein occlusion.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of several factors on the patency of the internal jugular vein (IJV) after functional neck dissection (FND). A prospective clinical study was undertaken in 21 patients (36 neck dissections) before and after FND at the 1st and 3rd postoperative months by using duplex Doppler ultrasonography. The patients who had radiation therapy (RT) were evaluated again in the 6th postoperative month in order to assess possible late effects of radiation therapy. In our patients the patency rate was 100%, and no thrombosis was found. But the area at rest and during Valsalva's maneuver was reduced, and this difference was found to be statistically significant. It was concluded that the patency of the IJV remains normal after FND. Radiation therapy, infection or fistula formation have no detrimental effects on patency. In addition, the number of ligated branches do not seem to be related to the patency rate.
To determine the incidence of thrombosis and change in caliber of the internal jugular vein after neck dissection.
Between September 1999 and December 2000, we studied 68 patients who underwent 76 neck dissection that spared the internal jugular vein. Thrombosis of the internal jugular vein was determined using duplex Doppler scans. The examination was performed about 10 days after the operation. Preoperative and postoperative imaging was available for 28 patients who underwent 32 neck dissections after April 2000. These 28 patients were divided into three groups. Group 1 consisted of 5 internal jugular veins which were treated with supraomohyoid neck dissection. Group 2 included 17 internal jugular veins which were treated with functional neck dissection. For group 3, ten patients underwent simultaneous bilateral neck dissections that spared the ipsilateral internal jugular vein with concurrent contralateral radical neck dissection. For each group, the mean ratio of the post- to pre-operative caliber of the internal jugular vein was calculated. Measurements were planned for 7 days, 1 month, and 3 months postoperatively.
The overall patency of the 76 internal jugular veins after neck dissection was 100%. In all groups, the mean ratio of the post- to pre-operative caliber of the internal jugular vein was lowest during the early postoperative period, and gradually increased within 3 months after surgery.
The caliber of the internal jugular veins decreased the most during the early postoperative period; however, internal jugular vein thrombosis is uncommon.
The internal jugular vein (IJV) is used as the optimal recipient for free-tissue transfer in reconstruction following modified radical neck dissection. Some reports documented rare cases of flap compromise following IJV thrombosis, but large sample studies are few. We present cases of emergent exploration and an analysis of factors to improve salvage rates of compromise due to IJV thrombosis. From a survey of 756 patients, four developed congestion due to IJV thrombosis and returned to the operating room. A restrospective analysis was made from the case records. This represents a rate of 0.5% for the entire series. Three flaps survived,and one failed. Detection of compromise ranged from 7-25 h postoperatively. All four IJVs recovered to provide adequate drainage after thrombectomy. While flap compromise following IJV thrombosis is rare, careful observation and early exploration are crucial for salvage, as in other microvascular venous crises.
Preferential use of end-to-side anastomosis to the internal jugular vein in head and neck reconstruction offers distinct advantages and has consistently yielded excellent outcomes. Presented is a series of 320 consecutive cases by a single surgeon at 1 institution over 10 years. The most common flaps employed were the rectus (33%), forearm (28%), and fibula (21%) flaps. The most common defects were the mandible +/- floor of mouth (27%), pharyngoesophagus (25%), and tongue or cheek (17% each). Minor wound-healing problems, infection, and hematoma were noted in 5% or less. Partial flap loss was seen in 2%. Total flap loss and arterial or venous thrombosis occurred in less than 1% of patients. The size, constant anatomy, patency, and possibility for multiple anastomoses make use of the internal jugular vein very advantageous. Kinking is not observed when the neck is rotated, and high patency rates can be expected.
The reliability of the free radial forearm flap is widely accepted; however, postoperative venous thrombosis still occurs occasionally. Thus, establishment of a fail-safe drainage system has been a challenging frontier. A total of 405 consecutive free radial forearm flap transfers, carried out in the authors' department between 1987 to 2002, were reviewed retrospectively. The most reliable drainage method comprised the dual flap drainage veins of the superficial venous system (the cutaneous vein) and the deep system (the radial vena comitans), including their connecting cubital perforating vein, and the two neck recipient veins of the internal jugular and the external jugular venous systems. None of the flaps transferred by this method incurred venous failure, regardless of the surgeons conducting the operation. This study on the venous network in drainage systems of the free radial forearm flap demonstrated that the described method functions in a self-sustaining manner, and contributes to protection against venous catastrophe.
Microvascular free-tissue transfer is essential for functional reconstruction in head and neck cancer surgery. The risk of free flap failure depends on venous thrombosis rather than arterial thrombosis, and any type of failure caused by venous thrombosis is often diagnosed late. In this study, we studied the flap survival rate achieved by this technique depending on the recipient vein. Further, the risk factor was analyzed for venous thrombosis with regard to preservation of recipient vein during neck dissection.
This study is a retrospective review of 102 consecutive free flaps performed by a single head and neck surgical team from 2000 to 2006 at the Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery at Kagoshima University Hospital. The recipient vessels such as the external jugular (EJ) vein and internal jugular (IJ) system were carefully preserved during neck dissection. All patients received 80 microg of prostaglandin E1 (Alprostadil) for 5 days after surgery.
The overall success rate was 94.1%. All the six cases of unsuccessful free flap transfer were caused by venous thrombosis. Microvascular free flaps anastomosed to the EJ vein failed at a significantly higher rate (13.3%) than those anastomosed to the IJ system (2.8%) (p<0.05). On studying the failed cases after IJ system anastomosis, we found that all complications were caused by internal jugular vein thrombosis (IJVT) and not by microvascular anastomotic thrombosis. In all the three cases of flap failure with IJVT, the dissected IJ vein was patently ballooning because of the remaining connective tissue, including the adventitia around the IJ vein in the supraclavicular lesion.
Although the IJ system is the ideal recipient vessel when compared with EJ vein, there is another risk of flap failure due to IJVT. To improve the survival rate, IJVT should be prevented by a careful manipulation of IJ system during neck dissection to avoid ballooning of the IJ vein in head and neck cancer surgery.