Surgical repair of long-segment cervical esophageal injury with a sternocleidomastoid myocutaneous flap

We present a useful technique for the surgical management of long-segment cervical esophageal tears using a sternocleidomastoid flap with overlying skin patch. The flap is easily accessible, customizable, and offers the ability to repair long segments of cervical and upper thoracic esophageal injuries.     

以颈横动脉为蒂的颈肩背反流轴型皮瓣

对２６例５２侧尸体进行了解剖学观察，结果证明，颈横动脉的血流可经吻合支反向灌入旋肩胛动脉及肋间后动脉，足以滋养在颈肩背区形成的轴型皮瓣。临床用以修复颈部瘢痕挛缩畸形２０例，其中１例应用双侧颈肩背皮瓣一次手术修复。除４例皮瓣的尖端发生血运障碍外，余均全部成活。     

以颈横动脉为蒂的颈肩背反流轴型皮瓣

对26例52侧尸体进行了解剖学观察,结果证明,颈横动脉的血流可经吻合支反向灌入旋肩胛动脉及肋间后动脉,足以滋养在颈肩背区形成的轴型皮瓣。临床用以修复颈部瘢痕挛缩畸形20例,其中1例应用双侧颈肩背皮瓣一次手术修复。除4例皮瓣的尖端发生血运障碍外,余均全部成活。     

Thoracic esophageal perforations

The authors review their experience with thoracic esophageal perforation at Inova Fairfax Hospital, June 1, 1988, to March 1, 2009. With the exception of 6 patients with occult perforation, all of whom survived with nonoperative therapy, aggressive surgical intervention was the standard approach. Among patients treated aggressively with surgery within 24 hours of perforation, hospital survival was 97 per cent versus 89 per cent for patients treated aggressively surgically after 24 hours. In the absence of phlegmon, implacable obstruction, or delay, primary repair resulted in 100 per cent survival. Where phlegmon or resolute obstruction existed, resection and reconstruction resulted in 96 per cent survival. Even when patients were deemed too ill to undergo surgery, cervical diversion was 100 per cent effective in eradicating continuing leak and achieved 89 per cent survival. Endoesophageal stenting was applied as primary treatment or secondarily such as where leak complicated primary repair. When stenting was used as the initial and primary treatment modality, survival was 88 per cent. Targeted drainage was helpful on occasion as an adjunct to initial therapies. Comfort measures alone were appropriate when clinical circumstances merited no effort at resuscitation. Finally, survivors were asked to self-categorize their ability to swallow; 95 per cent responded good to excellent.     

Correction of recurrent blepharoptosis using an orbicularis oculi muscle flap and a frontalis musculofascial flap

Thirteen patients underwent reoperation for recurrent blepharoptosis using the orbicularis oculi muscle flap or the frontalis musculofascial flap. The orbicularis oculi muscle flap and the frontalis musculofascial flap are a modification of direct transplantation of the frontalis muscle to the tarsal plate. This is based on an anatomic study showing that the frontalis muscle and its fascia are connected with the orbicularis oculi muscle at the eyebrow region. The patients' previous blepharoptosis operations were frontalis muscle suspension with autogenous or alloplastic material. Their follow-up period ranged from 6 months to 10 years. The average interval between the patient's first frontalis suspension to their reoperation was 8.09 years. The selection of the muscle flaps was based on the extent of levator function of the patient. When the eyelid excursion was moderate (>4 mm), the orbicularis oculi muscle flap was used. For patients with minimal or weak eyelid excursion (<3 mm), the frontalis musculofascial flap was used. Eleven patients (91.6%) gained levator excursion of more than 7 mm and reduced the height difference of both palpebral fissures by less than 2 mm after the reoperation. After an average follow-up of 20 months, 11 patients (14 eyelids) recorded satisfactory results. This is based on the criteria of Souther, and Jordan and Anderson. The overall results were more than satisfactory. Even though 2 patients reported poor results, there was no complete failure in this series. The authors' technique offers several advantages over conventional frontalis muscle suspension: it is a simple technique that has a good operative field, there is no donor morbidity and less complications, and asymmetrical supratarsal folding, eyelid notching, lagophthalmus, and abnormal eyebrow position that can occur after a frontalis muscle suspension can be avoided. In summary, the orbicularis oculi muscle flap or the frontalis musculofascial flap are considered for patients with recurrent blepharoptosis after frontalis muscle suspension.     

Management of esophageal perforations

Background  

Esophageal perforations remain a life-threatening event requiring rapid diagnosis and treatment. Surgical repair and interventional endoscopic or conservative treatment are the common treatment methods.     

额部岛状皮瓣修复眶周恶性肿瘤切除后缺损

目的 探讨额部岛状皮瓣修复眶周恶性肿瘤切除术后缺损的方法及修复效果.方法 对6例眶周恶性肿瘤扩大切除术后的软组织缺损患者,采用显微外科技术剥离血管蒂制备单侧额部岛状皮瓣进行I期修复,并将皮瓣折叠、去表皮,再造眼睑及充填颧部凹陷,供瓣区从下腹部取中厚皮片移植修复或直接拉拢缝合.皮瓣设计最小面积2.5 cm×3.0 cm,最大面积8 cm×5 cm.结果 6例转移皮瓣均完全成活,眶周外形恢复较好,下睑功能尚可.结论 额部岛状皮瓣质地、肤色均与受区近似,可最大程度地恢复面部的美学要求,是修复眶周恶性肿瘤切除术后皮肤缺损的一种较理想的手术方法.     

Reverse U-shaped split temporalis musculofascial flap in cranial base reconstruction.

To extend the versatility and range of the temporalis muscle, a new type of temporalis musculofascial flap was developed. This was achieved by dividing the muscle into two portions--anterior and posterior-while maintaining vascular communication between the deep and the middle temporal arteries. This flap is reverse U-shaped with one of the arms of the "U" corresponding to a pedicle, which supplies the blood, and the other corresponding to the recipient region. The bottom of the U corresponds to continuity between the anterior and posterior portions of the muscle, which contains the vascular communication. In two patients with meningioma, the flap was applied to occupy the extradural dead space combined with a pericranial flap to prevent leakage of cerebral spinal fluid to the dural defect. The reverse U-shaped split temporalis musculofascial flap has some advantages for intracranial reconstruction: sufficient rotational arc, adequate thickness, and rich vascularity. A reverse U-shaped split temporalis musculofascial flap is useful and of benefit, especially for reconstruction at the region of the anterior midline skull base.     

改良菱形皮瓣修复皮肤缺损

目的:总结改良菱形皮瓣修复皮肤缺损的的应用经验。方法:2006年～2011年,我科应用改良菱形皮瓣修复皮肤缺损共46例,创面最大7.0cm×4.5cm,最小1.2cm×0.6cm。在缺损边缘的一侧设计皮瓣,浅筋膜层内形成皮瓣,无张力下向受区转移修复创面。结果:术后除2例皮瓣尖端散在的表皮坏死外,其余存活良好,创面得以Ⅰ期修复,经1个月～5年随访,切口痕迹不明显,局部外形满意。结论:改良菱形皮瓣制作简单,是修复皮肤缺损的一种良好方法。     

Thoracic esophageal perforations: a decade of experience

BACKGROUND: Perforation of the thoracic esophagus is a formidable challenge. Treatment and outcome are largely determined by the time to presentation. We reviewed our experience with esophageal perforations to determine the overall mortality and whether the time to presentation should influence management strategy. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed on all patients treated for perforation of the thoracic esophagus from 1990 to 2001. There were 26 patients (14 men and 12 women; median age, 62 years; range, 36 to 89 years). Fourteen patients presented within 24 hours (early), and 12 patients presented after 24 hours (delayed). Nine of the 12 patients in the delayed group presented after 72 hours. The causes of the perforations were as follows: instrumentation (19 patients), Boerhaave's syndrome (2 patients), intraoperative injury (1 patient), and other (4 patients). In the early group, 3 patients were treated conservatively, 10 patients underwent primary repair, and 1 patient required esophagectomy for carcinoma. In the delayed group, 3 patients were treated conservatively, 6 underwent successful repair of the perforation, 1 had a T-tube placement through the perforation and eventually required an esophagectomy, and 2 had an esophagectomy as primary surgical treatment. RESULTS: Hospital mortality was 3.8% (1 of 26) and morbidity was 38% (10 of 26). Persistent leaks occurred in 3 patients, 2 after primary repair and 1 after T-tube drainage. All patients selected for conservative management successfully healed their perforation. CONCLUSIONS: Primary repair can be carried out in most cases of thoracic esophageal perforation regardless of time to presentation, with a low mortality rate. A small but carefully selected group of patients may be treated successfully without operation. Esophagectomy should be reserved for patients with carcinoma or extensive necrosis of the esophagus.     

Treatment of thoracic esophageal perforations

Objective

To evaluate the results of the treatment of patients with thoracic esophageal perforation in order to determine the most appropriate management of this entity.

Patients and method

We performed a retrospective study of 21 patients (mean age 59 years; 24-82) who presented with thoracic esophageal perforation to our hospital between 1991 and 2004.

Results

In 13 patients (62%) treatment was performed within 24 hours. In the remaining 8 patients the mean delay was 7.2 (2-12) days. In 4 patients (26%) the perforation was confined to the mediastinum and conservative treatment was provided. Of these patients, 1 developed empyema and underwent esophageal resection. Extramediastinal involvement was confirmed in 17 patients (73%) and was treated by a variety of surgical procedures: esophagectomy (n=2), drainage alone (n=2), primary closure (n=2) and reinforced primary repair (n= 11). Two patients with simple closure and 1 with reinforced primary closure developed leakage of the suture line resulting in death. The 3 patients who underwent esophagectomy survived. In patients with perforation confined to the mediastinum mortality was 0%, whereas in those with extramediastinal involvement mortality was 23%.

Conclusions

Thoracic esophageal perforation leads to high mortality rates and requires early diagnosis and immediate treatment. Conservative management is appropriate in only a few selected patients. When surgical treatment is indicated, we advocate reinforced primary repair regardless of the interval between injury and operation, except when the esophagus is in such poor condition that esophagectomy is the only option.     

Management of thoracic esophageal perforations

Objective: To assess our results of a prospective algorithm applied to patients with thoracic esophageal perforation. Methods: A retrospective review of a prospective algorithm. Patients with esophageal perforation underwent an esophagram. If there was a contained esophageal perforation they were admitted, kept nothing by mouth, and restudied in 3–5 days. If the leak was not contained, they underwent operative repair. Results: From 1/1998 to 6/2009 there were 81 patients. The gastrograffin swallow showed 56 patients had contained perforations and 25 did not. Twenty-two of the 25 patients with noncontained perforation underwent immediate operative repair (one patient refused surgery, two were not stable enough for the operating room); their morbidity was 68% and there were six (24%) operative mortalities. Median hospital length of stay (LOS) was 11 days (range, 2–120). Of the 56 patients with contained perforations, 26 were managed successfully without surgery. However, 30 of the patients initially treated nonoperatively eventually required operations due to new pleural effusion, mediastinal abscess, or conversion to noncontained perforation. Their morbidity was 41% and there were three operative mortalities (5%). On univariate analysis, these patients were more likely to have undergone previous esophageal procedures (surgical or dilation) (p = 0.03), had new or increased pleural effusion (p = 0.04), and had greater than 24 h between diagnosis and treatment (p = 0.02). Only greater than 24 h between diagnosis and treatment remained a significant predictor on multivariate analysis. Their median hospital LOS was 21 days (range, 7–77). Conclusion: Contained thoracic esophageal perforations can usually be safely managed nonoperatively without significant morbidity or mortality. However, careful in-hospital monitoring is needed if surgery is not chosen.     

尿道下裂修复术中阴茎腹侧创面的修复

目的:介绍一种新的尿道下裂修复术中阴囊纵隔皮瓣的应用方法.方法:自2000年6月至2006年10月对30例尿道下裂病人采用阴茎局部皮瓣尿道成形,应用以阴囊前、后动脉为蒂的阴囊纵隔岛状皮瓣进行阴茎腹侧再造尿道表面创面的覆盖.结果:30例中有4例病人早期出现漏尿,2～4周后自行愈合,其余病人均Ⅰ期愈合,术后排尿通畅,阴茎阴囊外形满意.结论:尿道下裂修复术中,应用阴囊纵隔皮瓣覆盖尿道再造后阴茎腹侧创面,方法简便,效果良好,外形满意,是解决尿道下裂患者局部组织材料不足的理想供区.     

Repair of cervical esophageal perforation using longus colli muscle flap: a case report of a patient with cervical spinal cord injury

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Perforation of the esophagus after anterior cervical spine surgery is a rare, but well-recognized complication. The management of esophageal perforation is controversial, and either nonoperative or operative treatment can be selected. PURPOSE: Several reports have described the use of a sternocleidomastoid muscle flap for esophageal repair. In this case report, we describe a longus colli muscle flap as a substitute for a sternocleidomastoid flap in a patient with an esophageal perforation. STUDY DESIGN: Case report. PATIENT SAMPLE: A 20-year-old man sustained cervical spinal cord injury, on diving and hitting his head against the bottom of a pool. A C6 burst fracture was observed with posterior displacement of a bone fragment into the spinal canal. The patient exhibited complete paralysis below the C8 spinal segment level. METHODS: The patient underwent subtotal corpectomy of the sixth cervical vertebra with the iliac bone graft and augmented posterior spinal fixation (C5-7) with pedicle screws. After the primary operation, the patient showed signs of infection such as throat pain, a high fever, and osteolytic change of the grafted bone by cervical radiograph. A second operation was performed to replace the graft bone using fibula. On the day after the operation, food residue was confirmed in the suction drainage tube, suggesting esophagus perforation. A third operation was immediately performed to confirm and treat esophagus perforation, although apparent esophageal perforation could not be detected at the second operation. Because the erosion around the perforation of the esophageal posterior wall was extensive, a longus colli muscle flap transposition was accordingly performed into the interspace between the esophageal posterior wall and the grafted bone in addition to simple suturing of the perforation. RESULTS: Neither high fever nor pharyngeal pain has recurred at latest follow-up, 5 years after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report concerning the use of a longus colli muscle flap for esophageal perforation after anterior cervical spine surgery.     

Immediate breast reconstruction using an external oblique rectus musculofascial turnover flap

The development of the external oblique rectus musculofascial turnover flap has recently received a great deal of attention. With this method, the upper part of the external oblique muscle is lifted off the lower thoracic wall along with a segment of the rectus muscle, pedicled in the sixth intercostal space and subsequently connected with the lower margin of the pectoralis major muscle. This approach bridges the weak regions of the thin muscle layers in the medioinferior breast area. Because this procedure avoids the need for a second operation to restore the contour and enables production of a natural ptosis and a well-accentuated lower breast fold, it has become increasingly important in immediate breast reconstruction. Compared with the complex myocutaneous flaps techniques, this procedure is characterized by relative simplicity and ease of performance. Compared with the tissue expansion technique, the oblique rectus turnover flap allows restoration of the female form in a one-stage procedure with a better, more natural ptotic breast shape and well-defined inframammary crease. Results have been encouraging. In fact, this procedure has almost completely replaced other techniques for immediate reconstruction of the female breast following mastectomy.     

应用扩张皮瓣修复下眼睑外翻

目的探讨利用皮肤软组织扩张技术,修复各种原因所致下眼睑外翻。方法利用皮肤扩张器对40例各种原因所致下眼睑外翻患者行后期整复治疗,扩张器容量最小30ml,最大150ml;扩张时间2～3个月,扩张满意后面部皮肤以局部皮瓣旋转或推进整复下眼睑外翻。结果40例患者疗效基本满意,随访2年未见复发,其中2例因皮瓣局部臃肿行修薄术,扩张皮瓣色泽及质地均接近正常皮肤。结论在下眼睑外翻的后期整复中,合理应用皮肤软组织扩张技术可以取得较好的治疗效果,供区切口隐蔽,而且不易复发。     

Correction of cervical esophageal stricture using an axial island cheek flap

Chronic strictures of the cervical esophagus after laryngectomy and radiation therapy pose a difficult problem in reconstructive surgery. Most conventional operations for cervical esophageal reconstruction are not well suited to the treatment of stricture because of lack of mucosal surface, or because of bulky tissues that awkwardly fit around the tracheal stoma. This report describes our experience with a new operation designed to correct this defect. We transposed an island full-thickness cheek flap, which included an inner lining of mucosa and outer covering of skin. The flap was based on the facial artery and vein, and used as a patch to the stricture area. Normal swaLlowing and excellent cosmetic appearance were achieved. There has been minor numbness of the corner of the upper lip. This flap has excellent reach, and may have multiple applications to reconstruction problems in the head and neck.