title: Recipient Vessel Selection in Head and Neck Reconstruction Based on the Type of Neck Dissection.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recipient vessel selection in head and neck reconstruction using free flap transfers has to be standardized. However, the recipient vessel selection based on the type of neck dissection has yet to be investigated. We describe the relationship between the type of neck dissection and recipient vessel.
  
  
  METHODS
  Records of 107 consecutive patients who had undergone head and neck reconstruction using free flap transfers from 2011 to 2015 were reviewed retrospectively. Ninety-five were men and 12 were women, with a mean age of 65.6 years. Patients were divided into 5 groups based on the type of neck dissection: no neck dissection (NND, n = 17), upper jugular neck dissection, (UJND, n = 1), supraomohyoid neck dissection (SOND, n = 18), jugular neck dissection (JND, n = 39), and modified radical neck dissection (mRND, n = 32). We details the number of recipient vessels we selected for free tissue transfer in head and neck reconstruction depending on the type of neck dissection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall patency rate was 100%. The superficial temporal artery was used most frequently in NND; the superior thyroid artery in SOND; the transverse cervical artery in JND; and the transverse cervical artery in mRND. The superficial temporal vein was used most frequently in NND; The internal jugular vein in the SOND; and The external jugular vein in mRND.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Microsurgeons should remember that proper recipient vessel selection depending on the type of neck dissection is important. We believe proper recipient vessel selection should improve results of head and neck reconstruction using free flap transfer.
authors: Departments of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Tottori University Hospital, Yonago 683-8504, Japan.
authors: Shunjiro
authors: S
authors: Yagi
authors: Departments of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Tottori University Hospital, Yonago 683-8504, Japan.
authors: Yoshiko
authors: Y
authors: Suyama
authors: Departments of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Tottori University Hospital, Yonago 683-8504, Japan.
authors: Kohei
authors: K
authors: Fukuoka
authors: †Division of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Sensory and Motor Organs, School of Medicine, Tottori University Faculty of Medicine, Yonago 683-8503, Japan.
authors: Hiromi
authors: H
authors: Takeuchi
authors: †Division of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Sensory and Motor Organs, School of Medicine, Tottori University Faculty of Medicine, Yonago 683-8503, Japan.
authors: Hiroya
authors: H
authors: Kitano
keywords: free flap; head and neck reconstruction; microsurgery; neck dissection; recipient vessel