Chimeric thoracoacromial artery perforator flap for one‐staged reconstruction of complex pharyngoesophageal defects: A single unit experience

• DOI: 10.1002/hed.24962
• Publication Date: 2017-10-11T15:12:37Z
• Authors: Dajiang Song; Georgios Pafitanis; Luis Eduardo Parr...; Peng Yang; Isao Koshima; Yixin Zhang; Takuya Iida; Xiao Zhou; Zan Li
• Keywords: Adult; Aged, 80 and over; Male; 2. Zero hunger; Middle Aged; Plastic Surgery Procedures; Pectoralis Muscles; 3. Good health; 03 medical and health sciences; Esophagus; 0302 clinical medicine; Humans; Pharynx; Perforator Flap; Neck; Aged

AbstractBackgroundCircumferential hypopharyngeal defects with anterior neck skin loss often require double‐stacked or chimeric flaps to achieve good surgical outcomes. The thoracoacromial artery perforator (TAAP) flap is a simple and reliable method for hypopharyngeal defect reconstruction.MethodsFrom March 2012 to February 2015, 19 male patients with an average age of 62 years (range 42‐81 years) underwent complex pharyngoesophageal defect reconstruction with chimeric TAAP flaps.ResultsAll 19 male patients who underwent reconstruction with TAAP flaps achieved optimal functional outcomes. All donor sites were closed primarily. The average length of hospital stay was 12.5 days (range 10‐19 days). All patients returned back to normal nutrition after 8 weeks postoperatively. The average follow‐up period was 19.3 months (range 14‐48 months).ConclusionThe chimeric TAAP flap is an innovative local alternative solution for reconstruction of complex circumferential hypopharyngeal defects when free tissue transfer is contraindicated or neck vessels are depleted.