Single Superficial versus Dual Systems Venous Anastomoses in Radial Forearm Free Flap: A Meta-Analysis.
BACKGROUND
The radial forearm free flap (RFFF) has been widely used with increasing frequency in head and neck reconstruction following extirpative surgery. The controversy of the venous anastomoses patterns still exists. Thus, we conducted a meta-analysis to assess the relationship between the venous anastomoses patterns and venous compromise.


METHODS
MEDLINE, PubMed, Web of Science, and Wanfang databases were searched for studies reporting the different venous anastomoses patterns of the RFFF. A meta-analysis was conducted using the random effects models. Publication bias and sensitivity analysis were also assessed.


RESULTS
6 studies with 992 cases were included in this meta-analysis. The dual anastomosis group tended to have a lower incidence of venous compromise (RR = 1.39). However, the difference was not statistically significant (95%CI: 0.59, 3.24).


CONCLUSIONS
This meta-analysis indicated that performing dual venous anatomoses consisting of superficial and deep systems conferred a tendency of the reduction with regard to venous compromise.
Department of Oromaxillofacial-Head and Neck Surgery, School of Stomatology, China Medical University, No.117, Nanjing North Street, Heping District, Shenyang, Liaoning, People's Republic of China; Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Stomatology, China Medical University, No.117, Nanjing North Street, Heping District, Shenyang, Liaoning, People's Republic of China.
Shuang
S
Bai
Department of Oromaxillofacial-Head and Neck Surgery, School of Stomatology, China Medical University, No.117, Nanjing North Street, Heping District, Shenyang, Liaoning, People's Republic of China; Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Stomatology, China Medical University, No.117, Nanjing North Street, Heping District, Shenyang, Liaoning, People's Republic of China.
Zhong-Fei
ZF
Xu
Department of Oromaxillofacial-Head and Neck Surgery, School of Stomatology, China Medical University, No.117, Nanjing North Street, Heping District, Shenyang, Liaoning, People's Republic of China; Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Stomatology, China Medical University, No.117, Nanjing North Street, Heping District, Shenyang, Liaoning, People's Republic of China.
Wei-Yi
WY
Duan
Department of Oromaxillofacial-Head and Neck Surgery, School of Stomatology, China Medical University, No.117, Nanjing North Street, Heping District, Shenyang, Liaoning, People's Republic of China; Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Stomatology, China Medical University, No.117, Nanjing North Street, Heping District, Shenyang, Liaoning, People's Republic of China.
Fa-Yu
FY
Liu
Department of Clinical Epidemiology, the first affiliated hospital of China Medical University, No.155, Nanjing Street, Heping District, Shenyang, Liaoning, People's Republic of China.
Dong-Hui
DH
Huang
Department of Oromaxillofacial-Head and Neck Surgery, School of Stomatology, China Medical University, No.117, Nanjing North Street, Heping District, Shenyang, Liaoning, People's Republic of China; Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Stomatology, China Medical University, No.117, Nanjing North Street, Heping District, Shenyang, Liaoning, People's Republic of China.
Chang-Fu
CF
Sun
D001166:Arteriovenous Shunt, Surgical / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans