[Monitoring free flaps with cutaneous microdialysis: preliminary study in oral cavity reconstruction].
BACKGROUND
Postoperative monitoring of free flaps with microdialysis allows early diagnosis of anastomotic complications. Feasibi-lity studies are required to examine flap accessibility for oral cavity reconstruction.


METHODS
We present our preliminary findings in two patients who underwent radial free flap reconstruction of the floor of the mouth. For the first patient, a microprobe was used to monitor the flap for 45 hours. In the second case, an abdominal microprobe served as a control in healthy skin with another probe located in the cutaneous flap for 4 days. Flap monitoring, starting from the recovery room, was successful with easy manipulations for the nurse. Correlation between the monitoring curves and the clinical aspect of the flap was excellent.


CONCLUSIONS
The microprobe should be short (1 cm), and carefully anchored. Naso-gastric feeding is required during monitoring. A close correlation has been found between glucose level and systolic pressure. The use of a comparative microprobe in healthy abdominal skin is helpful in learning to use the dialysis curves.
Brix
M
M
Service de Chirurgie Maxillo-faciale et Stomatologie, Hôpital A. Michallon, CHU de Grenoble, France. MBrix@chu-grenoble.fr
Muret
P
P
Ricbourg
B
B
Humbert
P
P
D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia / Q000175:diagnosis; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000097:blood; D017551:Microdialysis / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D008866:Microsurgery; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D009060:Mouth Floor / Q000601:surgery; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D019647:Oral Surgical Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D011182:Postoperative Care; D019289:Pyruvic Acid / Q000097:blood; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000098:blood supply*
D001786:Blood Glucose; D019344:Lactic Acid; D019289:Pyruvic Acid