Premium
The arterial anatomy of larynx transplantation: Microsurgical revascularization of the larynx
Author(s) -
Anthony James P.,
Argenta Peter,
Trabulsy Philip P.,
Lin Richard Y.,
Mathes Stephen J.
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
clinical anatomy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.667
H-Index - 71
eISSN - 1098-2353
pISSN - 0897-3806
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1098-2353(1996)9:3<155::aid-ca3>3.0.co;2-f
Subject(s) - medicine , larynx , superior thyroid artery , transplantation , revascularization , thyroid cartilage , perfusion , anatomy , laryngectomy , artery , inferior thyroid artery , surgery , radiology , thyroid , cardiology , recurrent laryngeal nerve , myocardial infarction
Advances in immunosuppression and selective reinnervation may soon make laryngeal transplantation a potential therapy for patients undergoing total laryngectomy. Successful transplantation requires a clear delineation of those vessels necessary to completely revascularize the larynx. Our hypothesis is that the arterial inflow provided by a single superior thyroid artery is sufficient to revascularize the entire larynx. To test this hypothesis, 8 cadavers were studied via either barium latex injection (n = 4) to assess contralateral tissue perfusion or India ink (n = 4), to determine the degree of mucosal perfusion. Following injection via a single superior thyroid artery, all larynges demonstrated either complete, bilateral tissue perfusion evidenced by x‐ray visualization of the barium latex injected specimen or bilateral mucosal staining with India ink. We conclude that bilateral perfusion of the entire larynx transplant, including laryngeal and epiglottic mucosa, would occur after revascularization of a single superior thyroid artery. These findings suggest that reliable revascularization of a larynx transplant is technically possible using modern microsurgical techniques. © 1996 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.