Laparoscopic harvest of the gastro-omental free flap for reconstruction after total pharyngolaryngectomy: Operative technique

Steven J Craig; Alexander Zhang; Trevor D Gardner; Jonathan R Clark; Bruce G Ashford

doi:10.1002/hed.24698

Laparoscopic harvest of the gastro-omental free flap for reconstruction after total pharyngolaryngectomy: Operative technique

Head Neck. 2017 Aug;39(8):1696-1698. doi: 10.1002/hed.24698. Epub 2017 Jun 5.

Authors

Steven J Craig¹, Alexander Zhang¹, Trevor D Gardner¹, Jonathan R Clark^{2

3}, Bruce G Ashford^{1

4

2}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Surgery, Wollongong Hospital, New South Wales, Australia.
² Sydney Head and Neck Cancer Institute, Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Chris O'Brien Lifehouse, Sydney, Australia.
³ Central Clinical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
⁴ Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, University of Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia.

PMID: 28580729
DOI: 10.1002/hed.24698

Abstract

Circumferential defects following salvage pharyngolaryngectomy present significant challenges in reconstructive surgery. The gastro-omental free flap has been shown to reduce the incidence of major fistula and catastrophic complications. The current technique for harvest of the flap requires laparotomy, which is potentially associated with significant post-operative complications. Laparoscopic harvest of the gastro-omental free flap can negate some of the risks associated with open surgery. We describe here the operative technique for laparoscopic gastro-omental free flap harvest for use in reconstruction following total pharyngolaryngectomy. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 39: 1696-1698, 2017.

Keywords: free flap; gastro-omental; laparoscopic; pharyngolaryngectomy; reconstruction.

MeSH terms

Free Tissue Flaps*
Humans
Laparoscopy
Laryngectomy / methods*
Omentum / blood supply
Omentum / transplantation*
Pharyngectomy / methods*
Plastic Surgery Procedures
Stomach