Use of Cephalic Vein for Venous Anastomosis in Head and Neck Reconstruction: A Case Series | |
,a ,b ,a ,a c | |
aDepartment of Plastic Surgery, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan; bDepartment of Plastic Surgery, Cancer Foundation Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan; and cShaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan |
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Correspondence: Fazli.rahman@aku.edu |
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Keywords: head and neck, free flaps, cephalic vein, recipient, venous anastomosis |
Purpose: To describe the use of the cephalic vein as a recipient vessel for venous outflow in head and neck reconstruction. The cephalic vein is used as a vessel in cases where there is a paucity of veins in the neck. This may be due to previous surgery, previous radiation therapy, or advanced cancer. The cephalic vein may also be used to salvage a failing free flap. Methods: It is a retrospective review of 230 free flaps that had been used in head and neck reconstruction performed from July 2014 to July 2018 by a single surgeon. Results: There were 6 patients in whom the cephalic vein was used as a recipient vessel. ....... |