Background: In the neck, the recipient vessels most frequently used for microsurgical reconstruction are compromised by prior surgery and radiation.
Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review of all patients who underwent microvascular reconstruction between July 2001 and June 2005. Donor vessels, vein grafts, and flap survival were examined.
Results: Fourteen of 197 patients (7%) were identified with a vessel-depleted neck. All patients had undergone a prior neck dissection and radiation (100%) or chemoradiation (42%). Free flap revascularization was achieved using the transverse cervical artery with a vein graft and a cephalic vein (4 patients), thoracoacromial artery and cephalic vein (3 patients), internal mammary artery and vein (3 patients), and inferior thyroid artery and cephalic vein (1 case). In 3 patients, the reverse flow thoracodorsal artery and cephalic vein were used to vascularize the scapular flap.
Conclusion: The cephalic vein, transverse cervical, internal mammary, and thoracoacromial vessels represent reliable alternatives in the vessel-depleted neck.