title: Comparison of end-to-end and end-to-side venous anastomosis in free-tissue transfer following resection of head and neck tumors.
abstract: A comparative study was conducted of the results of venous end-to-end and end-to-side anastomosis in 948 clinical cases of microvascular free-tissue transfers for head and neck reconstruction following tumor resection. End-to-side anastomosis to the internal jugular vein was achieved uneventfully in the present series, while a variety of recipient veins was used for end-to-end anastomosis. The incidence of thrombosis was 1.8% (15/835) in the end-to-end anastomosis group and 2.7% (3/113) in end-to-side venous anastomosis. No statistical difference was observed between the two groups. One may hesitate to perform end-to-side anastomosis because of unfamiliarity, concern over technical difficulty, and unreliability. As a result of our statistical analysis, we are convinced that end-to-side anastomosis directly to the internal jugular vein, whenever available, is the preferred procedure in microvascular free-tissue transfers for reconstruction of the head and neck following tumor resection.
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic Surgery, Jichi Medical School, Tochigi, Japan.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ueda
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Harii
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakatsuka
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Asato
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yamada
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005145:Face / Q000098:blood supply; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007601:Jugular Veins / Q000601:surgery*; D008866:Microsurgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000379:methods*; D013536:Suture Techniques; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000209:etiology; D014680:Veins / Q000601:surgery