Utility of the gastro-omental free flap in head and neck reconstruction.
OBJECTIVE
In the current era of organ-preservation therapies, surgical salvage and reconstruction of defects following ablation of mucosa and soft tissue in the head and neck is extremely challenging because of the toxic effects of chemoradiation and intensive radiotherapy on wounds. The anatomical, physiological and immunological properties of the gastro-omental flap make it an ideal reconstructive technique in head and neck surgery.


RESULTS
Several case series published in the past 12 months highlight the utility of this flap in inhospitable wounds and particularly in restoration of circumferential pharyngeal defects. The gastro-omental flap produces satisfactory functional results and morbidity in this group of high-risk patients.


CONCLUSIONS
The gastro-omental free flap provides an alternative to traditional reconstructive techniques that is ideally suited to high-risk complex wounds in the head and neck.
Patel
Rajan S
RS
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Auckland City Hospital, University of Auckland, New Zealand. drrajanspatel@gmail.com
Gilbert
Ralph W
RW
D005260:Female; D006084:Graft Rejection; D006085:Graft Survival; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D009852:Omentum / Q000637:transplantation*; D011379:Prognosis; D011788:Quality of Life; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D020127:Recovery of Function; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*