title: Human tracheal reconstruction with a composite radial forearm free flap and prosthesis.
abstract: Reconstruction of large tracheal defects has been largely unsuccessful. We report a novel single-stage tracheal reconstruction for a 6.5-cm long defect involving the anterior two thirds of the tracheal circumference in a patient with deeply infiltrative thyroid cancer into the tracheal lumen. The reconstruction was completed using a conduit composed of a radial forearm free flap for lining with a combined PolyMax mesh (Synthes, Paoli, PA) and Hemashield vascular graft (Boston Scientific, Natick, MA) for rigid support. At a 6-month follow-up the patient has normal swallowing and preoperative voice quality, and she maintains a patent, non-stented airway.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA. eirongyu@mdanderson.org
authors.forename: Peirong
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Gary L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Clayman
authors.forename: Garrett L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Walsh
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D005542:Forearm / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D014132:Trachea / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome