title: A Novel Application of Double-Paddle Peroneal Chimeric Flap as External Sentinel Monitor in Hypopharyngeal Reconstruction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Monitoring the viability of buried free flaps in hypopharyngeal reconstruction is difficult. Various methods have been proposed to monitor these buried flaps, but limitations remain.
  
  
  METHODS
  We present a method of using double-paddle chimeric peroneal flaps that permanently externalizes a flap skin paddle as a monitoring paddle in hypopharyngeal reconstructions. This study was performed in a medical center in southern Taiwan; between 2013 and 2015, 10 patients underwent double-paddle chimeric peroneal flap reconstruction in advanced stages of hypopharyngeal cancer. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records from these surgeries, searching for either short-term postoperative complications or long-term follow-up morbidity and researched relevant articles for comparisons with other monitoring methods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  None of the 10 flaps underwent total loss. The rate of stenosis and that of fistula formation was 10%. The average postoperative hospital stay was 39 days. Six of 10 patients were able to resume at least a soft diet after reconstruction, and none of the patients experienced significant complications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The peroneal flap is a useful flap because it is thin and pliable, has minimal donor site morbidity in patients without peripheral vascular disease, and has the potential of multiple skin paddles so that one skin paddle can be used for monitoring the buried flap. Using this method, direct clinical monitoring is feasible, and early detection of vascular complications is possible. Furthermore, the drawbacks of using a monitoring paddle produced by a deepithelialized bridge can be avoided.
authors.affiliation: From the *Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung; †School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University; ‡The School of Medicine of National Defense Medical Center, Taipei; and §Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jung-Hua
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Hsueh
authors.forename: Yu-Hsuan
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Hsieh
authors.forename: Ying-Sheng
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Yaoh-Shiang
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Kuo-Chung
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Wen-Chung
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007012:Hypopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D007013:Hypopharynx / Q000601:surgery*; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D013624:Taiwan; D016896:Treatment Outcome