title: Parameters for the preoperative evaluation of arteriosclerosis for free-flap transfers in head and neck surgery.
abstract: The microsurgical transfer of free tissue has become essential for reconstructive surgery in the head and neck, and arteriosclerosis is one of the risk factors for microvascular anastomosis. In order to detect severe arteriosclerosis and to determine the parameters useful for evaluating arteriosclerosis preoperatively, the grade of arteriosclerosis was investigated with respect to age, PWV (Aortic Pulse Wave Velocity), ocular fundus findings, and histopathological findings of the recipient arteries in 40 patients with malignant tumours. Severe arteriosclerosis was detected in 2/40 patients by the PWV, in the same 2/40 patients by the ocular fundus findings and in the same 2/40 patients by histopathological findings. The current observations indicate that the PWV and ocular fundus findings are useful parameters for the preoperative evaluation of the grade of arteriosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Hyogo College of Medicine, Nishinomiya, Hyogo, Japan. nkanoh@hyo-med.ac.jp
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kanoh
authors.forename: C F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ikeda
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Mimura
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001158:Arteries / Q000473:pathology; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000145:classification / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D005260:Female; D005654:Fundus Oculi; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011300:Preoperative Care; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000098:blood supply*; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*