title: Closure of a Tracheocutaneous Fistula With a Local Turnover Flap Combined With Pregrafted Palatal Mucosa: A Case Report.
abstract: Objectives:A method of closing a large tracheocutaneous fistula by a combination of a palatal mucosal graft with a turnover adiposal flap is presented.Methods:Mucosa of the same size as the tracheal defect was harvested from the hard palate and grafted just caudal to the fistula. After the mucosal graft had taken, a local flap containing the mucosal graft was turned over the tracheal defect facing the mucosa inward of the tracheal lumen. The defect caused by harvesting the flap was closed horizontally.Results:The fistula was closed successfully, and 1 year after the operation, the patient had no airway compromise and the operative scar was inconspicuous.Conclusions:Although the described method is a 2-stage procedure, it can be used to simply and reliably reconstruct the mucosal layer of the tracheal lumen and overlying skin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Matsunami General Hospital, Gifu, Japan.
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kitazawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Matsunami General Hospital, Gifu, Japan.
authors.forename: Masato
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shiba
keywords: closure; flap; mucosal graft; staged surgery; tracheocutaneous fistula