title: Free jejunal graft reconstruction after resection of neck cancers: our surgical technique.
abstract: Locally advanced carcinomas arising in the hypopharynx, cervical esophagus, or thyroid are traditionally treated by resection of the hypopharynx and cervical esophagus. Various methods of reconstruction aiming to achieve safety and functionality have been reported, including the myocutaneous flap and the free jejunal graft. With advances in microscopic surgery, the free jejunal transplant is now used dominantly; however, this procedure is not without major risks. In this review we examine the short- and long-term complications of this procedure. We also describe our technique of free jejunal graft reconstruction after pharyngoesophagectomy and total laryngectomy with definitive tracheostomy. We used free jejunal graft reconstruction after resection with hypopharyngeal cancer or thyroid cancers in 22 patients. Twenty-one of these patients acquired a good quality of life, but one died after loss of the jejunal graft. Thus, using a free jejunal graft for reconstruction of the hypopharynx or cervical esophagus can be very useful in improving the quality of life of patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, Tottori University, Yonago 683-8504, Japan.
authors.forename: Masahide
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ikeguchi
authors.forename: Takanori
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Miyake
authors.forename: Tomoyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsunaga
authors.forename: Manabu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Youji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fukumoto
authors.forename: Yosinori
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fukuda
authors.forename: Hiroaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.forename: Shigeru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tatebe
authors.forename: Shun-ichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tsujitani
mesh_terms: D003679:Deglutition / Q000502:physiology; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007583:Jejunum / Q000637:transplantation*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*