title: An inferior rectus abdominis bridge flap for revascularization of an ischemic tongue.
abstract: Ablative surgery to completely eradicate cancer may injure or necessitate ligation of major vessels. Unplanned necrosis of intact adjacent tissues and/or organs may result due to insufficient blood supply. We report a case in which a free inferior rectus abdominis musculocutaneous flap was successfully used as a bridge flap. Reconstruction of a soft tissue defect as well as revascularization of an ischemic organ (the tongue) was simultaneously achieved with a single flap transfer. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a free inferior rectus abdominis musculocutaneous flap used successfully as a bridge flap.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakatsuka
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Harii
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ebihara
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000379:methods; D001158:Arteries / Q000601:surgery; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia / Q000601:surgery*; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000379:methods; D037981:Neck Dissection; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000601:surgery*; D012086:Reoperation; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000379:methods*; D014059:Tongue / Q000098:blood supply*; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*