title: Influence of using a single facial vein as outflow in full-face transplantation: A three-dimensional computed tomographic study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the contribution of a single unilateral facial vein in the venous outflow of total-face allograft using three-dimensional computed tomographic imaging techniques to further elucidate the mechanisms of venous complications following total-face transplant.
  
  
  METHODS
  Full-face soft-tissue flaps were harvested from fresh adult human cadavers. A single facial vein was identified and injected distally to the submandibular gland with a radiopaque contrast (barium sulfate/gelatin mixture) in every specimen. Following vascular injections, three-dimensional computed tomographic venographies of the faces were performed. Images were viewed using TeraRecon Software (Teracon, Inc., San Mateo, CA, USA) allowing analysis of the venous anatomy and perfusion in different facial subunits by observing radiopaque filling venous patterns.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three-dimensional computed tomographic venographies demonstrated a venous network with different degrees of perfusion in subunits of the face in relation to the facial vein injection side: 100% of ipsilateral and contralateral forehead units, 100% of ipsilateral and 75% of contralateral periorbital units, 100% of ipsilateral and 25% of contralateral cheek units, 100% of ipsilateral and 75% of contralateral nose units, 100% of ipsilateral and 75% of contralateral upper lip units, 100% of ipsilateral and 25% of contralateral lower lip units, and 50% of ipsilateral and 25% of contralateral chin units.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Venographies of the full-face grafts revealed better perfusion in the ipsilateral hemifaces from the facial vein in comparison with the contralateral hemifaces. Reduced perfusion was observed mostly in the contralateral cheek unit and contralateral lower face including the lower lip and chin units.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Sciences, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden; Department of Plastic and Maxillofacial Surgery, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden. Electronic address: a.rodriguez.ps@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Andres
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rodriguez-Lorenzo
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Sciences, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden; Department of Plastic and Maxillofacial Surgery, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Thorir
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Audolfsson
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Corrine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Gary
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Arbique
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Sciences, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden; Department of Plastic and Maxillofacial Surgery, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nowinski
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Shai
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rozen
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002102:Cadaver; D005145:Face / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D054445:Facial Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D007601:Jugular Veins / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D010690:Phlebography / Q000379:methods*; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000098:blood supply*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous
keywords: Allotransplantation; Face transplantation; Vascular complications; Vascular tissue; Venous ouflow