title: Double free flaps for reconstruction of complex/composite defects in head and neck surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE. To demonstrate the feasibility of double free flap surgery in head and neck reconstruction. DESIGN. Descriptive case series. SETTING. A university-affiliated hospital in Hong Kong. PATIENTS. Twelve patients with head and neck cancer (encountered over a 2.5-year period) who had reconstructive surgery with planned simultaneous double free flaps. RESULTS. The mean total operating time was 660 minutes and there were no flap failures. Postoperative stays ranged from 11 to 82 days; nine patients were discharged within 3 weeks and seven were able to maintain their weight with oral feeding. The survival rate up to 1 year was 64%. CONCLUSION. The use of double free flaps is an option worth considering for complex head and neck defects in carefully selected patients.
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Kevin W L
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Mo
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vlantis
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Eddy W Y
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: T W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Chiu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D058752:Free Tissue Flaps; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018579:Patient Selection; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate
keywords: Head and neck neoplasms/surgery; Reconstructive surgical procedures/methods; Surgical flaps