Otolaryngology: Open Access
Open Access

Abstract

Aim: Contemporary reconstructions of the head and neck defects after tumour resection, comprises free vascularised tissue transfer that became a gold standard in last few decades. The aim of this study was to review our clinical results and experience, with use of free microvascular flaps and compare them with recently published series. Methods: 97 patients underwent microsurgical reconstruction after the tumour ablation in the region of head and neck. Flap viability was monitored intra operatively by the Auckland test and postoperatively by the clinical observation and mini- Doppler test. Results: The overall success rate was 85.1%. The complications that appeared were: Three complete flap necrosis and six late flap ischemic necroses, in the period from 10th to 14th postoperative day, one necrosis due to a venous thrombosis and three partial flap necrosis occurred. Conclusion: Free flap reconstruction of the head and neck is a surgical technique that provides the reconstruction of complex and extensive defects that could not be performed by using local or regional flaps.

Biography

Zivorad Nikolic graduated both from Medical and Dental Schools at the University of Belgrade, Serbia, Yugoslavia. He has finished his Postgraduate surgical specialty training and Master of Science in 1993 at the Department for Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dental Medicine, University of Belgrade. During his education he had specialty training with emphasis on Plastic and Reconstructive surgery of Head and Neck as well as Craniofacial Surgery at Oxfords Radcliffe Infirmary, Great Britain. During the years 2000-2002 he spent 18 months working at Newcastle General Hospital and London?s Central Middlesex Hospital working as a part of the team for Head and Neck Surgery performing various types of Microsurgical reconstructions after tumour removal, which he continued to perform back at Department for Maxillofacial Surgery in Belgrade until now. After he received his PhD title in 2006 he was appointed as Associate Professor at Faculty of Dental Medicine, University of Belgrade.