Postoperative outcomes of free myocutaneous flap and pedicled myocutaneous flap for reconstruction in locally invasive thyroid carcinoma

Abstract

Locally invasive thyroid carcinoma (TC) often involves trachea. In such patients, the trachea needs to be reconstructed after surgery. We discuss the postoperative outcome and complications after trachea reconstruction by free myocutaneous flap (FMF) and pedicled myocutaneous flap (PMF). From January 2009 to September 2019, the clinical data of 38 patients with TC were retrospectively analyzed. Demographics, pathologic results, neoplasm staging, surgical protocol, decannulation, subjective speech function, and complications were documented. A total of 38 patients were analyzed (22 FMFs and 16 PMFs). Of the 38 patients, there is a similar rate of decannulation (81.8% in FMF and 75% in PMF), subjective speech function and complications. The FMF reconstruction and the PMF reconstruction have a similar result in terms of postoperative outcome and complications.