title: Reversed-flow superior thyroid artery: an alternative recipient vessel in head and neck reconstruction.
abstract: In neoadjuvant intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy patients, the common recipient arteries are frequently damaged owing to preoperative chemotherapy-induced intima injury. When antegrade arterial inflow to the free flap is not available, end-to-side carotid arterial anastomosis or exploration of another recipient artery may be an appropriate solution. However, reversed arterial flow is an alternative to such a situation. We report a case with squamous cell carcinoma on the right buccal area, which was successfully reconstructed using a free anterolateral thigh flap with reverse superior thyroid arterial inflow. This alternative method might shorten the operation time and also reduce further exploration injury in the operation field.
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Shu-Hung
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Sheng-Hua
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Wen-Her
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Mau-Chang
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Cheen
authors.forename: Cheng-Sheng
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: Sin-Daw
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Kao-Ping
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D001158:Arteries / Q000601:surgery; D002404:Catheterization; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000098:blood supply*