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Versatility and Reliability of Islanded Pedicled Nasolabial Flap in Head and Neck Cancer Reconstruction
Author(s) -
Chakrabarti Swagnik,
Gupta Devendra Kumar,
Gupta Monika,
Daga Dipti,
Mishra Aseem,
Sharma Sudhendu Shekhar,
Chugh Rajeev,
Singh Sanajeet Kumar
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
the laryngoscope
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.181
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1531-4995
pISSN - 0023-852X
DOI - 10.1002/lary.28662
Subject(s) - medicine , surgery , wound dehiscence , head and neck cancer , tracheotomy , dehiscence , ablative case , head and neck , fistula , radiation therapy
Objectives Reconstruction of head and neck cancer ablative defects is challenging. A modification of the nasolabial flap (islanded pedicled nasolabial flap [ipNLF]) is an easy and reliable option for reconstruction of small‐ to medium‐sized defects of the head and neck, especially in resource‐constrained and high‐volume centers. Study Design and Methods We present the retrospective analysis of 27 consecutive patients reconstructed with ipNLF at two high‐volume cancer centers, Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital, Varanasi, India; and Army Hospital Research and Referral, New Delhi, India. The functional outcomes measured were duration of weaning of feeding and tracheotomy tubes and speech assessment (speech intelligible rating score [SIR]) postsurgery. Complications assessed were flap loss, orocutaneous fistula, donor site wound dehiscence, oral incompetence, and angle of mouth deviation. Results The most common ablative defect was of the oral cavity (22 patients), followed by the oropharynx (4 patients) and hypopharynx (1 patient). The mean operating time for flap harvesting and insetting was 57.7 minutes. The mean durations for postoperative feeding tube and tracheotomy removal were 10 and 5 days, respectively. Twenty‐four subjects had SIR scores of I or II. None of the subjects had flap loss, orocutaneous fistula, or donor site wound dehiscence. Twenty‐five subjects had no oral incompetence, and 26 subjects had no or minimal angle of mouth deviation. Conclusion This is the largest series of ipNLF to date and emphasizes the versatility, reliability, reproducibility and excellent functional and acceptable cosmetic outcomes of this flap for the reconstruction of judiciously chosen head and neck ablative defects. Level of Evidence 2C Laryngoscope , 130: 1967–1972, 2020