title: Thalidomide-related vessel thrombosis in microsurgical free tissue transfer.
abstract: This article describes a 49-year-old man with lower gum cancer who received tumor ablation by an otolaryngologist and immediate reconstruction with microsurgical free tissue transfer. The thrombosis occurred at the arterial anastomotic site at least twice during operation by an experienced microsurgeon and progressed to skin paddle necrosis following surgery. The thalidomide-induced recipient vessel thrombosis is highly suspected after excluding other hypercoagulation problems and technique errors. While thalidomide is increasingly used as an adjuvant therapy agent in head and neck cancer treatment, its potential adverse effect resulting in recipient vessel thrombosis is worth consideration in microsurgery. Prophylatic antithrombosis agents are thus recommended to prevent this potential side effect.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Chung-Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yu-Tzu
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Tai
authors.forename: Pai-Chun
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Yen
authors.forename: Hsin-Han
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Erh-Kang
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Chou
mesh_terms: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008297:Male; D008339:Mandibular Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000637:transplantation; D037981:Neck Dissection; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D013792:Thalidomide / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013848:Thigh; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000139:chemically induced*
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D013792:Thalidomide