The thoracoacromial artery as the recipient artery for safer free jejunal transfer in patients with irradiated, extensively scarred necks

Transferring pectoral muscle flap to depleted neck to create a new recipient source for free flaps in head and neck reconstruction

“…Many clinics use pectoral myocutaneous flaps as regional workhorse option in appropriate patients. So, familiarity and experience with this flap have made TA vascular network an alternative recipient vessel for depleted necks when free flaps are required (Di Taranto et al, 2019; Harris et al, 2002; Numajiri et al, 2009; Onoda et al, 2011). However, this vascular system has also some disadvantages and one of the drawbacks in the literature is need of vein graft because of its caudal location (Harris et al, 2002; Prince et al, 2020; Wong et al, 2010).…”

“…Internal mammary artery ( _ IMA), which is another option, has also some disadvantages such as need for rib removal, risk of pneumothorax and need of vein grafts to reach (Ibrahim et al, 2019;Scaglioni et al, 2021). Harris et al, 2002;Numajiri et al, 2009;Onoda et al, 2011). However, this vascular system has also some disadvantages and one of the drawbacks in the literature is need of vein graft because of its caudal location (Harris et al, 2002;Prince et al, 2020;Wong et al, 2010).…”

Dorsal scapular artery as a recipient vessel in the vessel‐depleted neck during free tissue transfer in head and neck reconstruction

“…Reconstructive strategies in this challenging group of patients include the use of regional pedicled flaps as well as microvascular reconstruction using alternate recipient vessels. Commonly reported recipient arteries in the vessel‐depleted neck include the superficial temporal artery, the transverse cervical artery, and the internal mammary artery . The dorsal scapular artery is a known branch off the subclavian that courses through the posterior triangle; however, it has not yet been described as a recipient vessel during free tissue transfer.…”

“…Commonly reported recipient arteries in the vessel-depleted neck include the superficial temporal artery, the transverse cervical artery, and the internal mammary artery. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15] The dorsal scapular artery is a known branch off the subclavian that courses through the posterior triangle; however, it has not yet been described as a recipient vessel during free tissue transfer. This article provides an anatomic description utilizing cadaver dissection and 3D reconstructions of CT scans to illustrate the location and vessel characteristics of the dorsal scapular artery.…”