Abstract
Vessel selection is crucial for successful perfusion and survival of free flaps in complex reconstructive operations in the head and neck. Intimate knowledge of the arterial, venous, nervous, and lymphatic anatomy is a vital tool in the reconstructive surgeon’s armamentarium.
The external carotid artery system and its branches are commonly used recipient arteries, and a thorough understanding of these branching patterns allows for optimal vessel size match, length, and geometry. Similarly, wise use of the external jugular vein and venous branches of the internal jugular vein system will ensure a healthy anastomosis.
Important nerves, especially cranial nerves, should be respected during dissection for vessels in order to minimize surgical morbidity.
Excellent pedicle geometry and blood flow begin with thoughtful vessel selection.
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Surgical exposure of the internal jugular vein, the external jugular vein, the facial artery, the common facial vein, and the superior thyroid vein during bilateral neck dissection in a case that underwent free anterolateral thigh flap for the reconstruction of the floor of the mouth defect after intraoral cancer ablation (MP4 899918 kb)
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Tassone, P., Scharpf, J. (2021). External Carotid Branches/External Jugular/Internal Jugular. In: Gurunian, R., Djohan, R. (eds) Recipient Vessels in Reconstructive Microsurgery. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-75389-4_2
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