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Tube-in-a-tube anterolateral thigh flap for reconstruction of a complex esophageal and anterior neck defect. Annals of plastic surgery Komorowska-Timek, E., Lee, G. K. 2014; 72 (1): 64-66

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Restoration of a functional digestive track along with acceptable external neck coverage traditionally requires 2 separate flaps. We present a case of a 65-year-old man with a large cervical and esophageal defect treated successfully with a single anterolateral thigh (ALT) free flap. This patient had been treated with primary chemoradiation for laryngeal cancer, and subsequently, developed a severe esophageal stricture. He had undergone prior multiple attempts at reconstruction with a pectoralis major, radial forearm, and deltopectoral flaps, skin grafts, and gastric pull-up, which had all failed. We used an ALT free flap that was designed in a "tube-in-a-tube" fashion to simultaneously reconstruct the cervical esophagus while resurfacing the anterior neck. The patient successfully restarted a liquid diet on the 19th postoperative day. Tube-in-a-tube ALT flap design is a reliable and efficient way to concurrently restore esophageal continuity and provide anterior neck coverage in a single-stage procedure.

View details for DOI 10.1097/SAP.0b013e3182605400

View details for PubMedID 23241776