J Korean Assoc Maxillofac Plast Reconstr Surg.  2000 Feb;22(1):98-104.

Reconstruction of midfacial defects utilizing rectus abdominis free flap: report of 2 cases

• Lee SG
• Sung IY
• Kim JR

Abstract

Expansion in the scope and technique of head and neck tumor resection during the past two decades has paralleled precise tumor localization with advanced radiographic imaging and the availability of microvascular free tissue transfer. Especially, the defect reconstruction utilizing free flap results in improvement of patient survival due to decrease of local recurrence by wide resection of cancer. The rectus abdominis free flap has been used widely in reconstruction of the breast and extremities. However, the report of cases on its applications in the head and neck, based on the deep inferior epigastric artery and vein, is rare. This flap is one of the most versatile soft-tissue flaps. The deep inferior epigastric artery and vein are long and large-diameter vessels that are ideal for microvascular anastomosis. The skin area that can be transferred is probably the largest of all flaps presently in use. The versatility of the donor site is due to the ability to transfer large areas of skin with various thickness and amounts of underlying muscle. This article is to report reconstruction of midface defects utilizing the rectus abdominis free flap in 2 patients with maxillary squamous cell carcinoma and discuss briefly considerations in flap design and orbital exenteration, and healing of irradiated recipient site by hyperbaric oxygen therapy with literature review.

MeSH Terms

Breast
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell
Epigastric Arteries
Extremities
Free Tissue Flaps*
Head
Humans
Hyperbaric Oxygenation
Neck
Orbit
Rectus Abdominis*
Recurrence
Skin
Tissue Donors
Veins