Sternal resection and reconstruction after malignant tumours

Aim  We present our experience of the resection of sternal tumours (both primary and metastatic), followed by reconstruction of soft-tissue and skeletal defects with a mesh and musculocutaneous flap. Methods  Eleven patients were included in this study, all of which underwent sternal tumour resection and immediate chest wall repair. Reconstruction was accomplished with prosthetic material (polytetrafluoroethylene [PTFE]), a sandwich of polypropylene (Marlex-methylmethacrylate or titanium/polypropylene) and a pedicled musculocutaneous flap (pectoralis major, latissimus dorsi or rectus abdominis). Sternal tumours may arise from both primary (chondrosarcoma and neurofibrosarcoma) and secondary (local recurrence of breast carcinoma and metastatic disease from other organs) disease. Results  Extubation did not result in paradoxical respiration in any of the patients in the study. The post-operative mortality rate was seen to be zero. One patient with a PTFE prosthesis had chest failure requiring immediate intubation and posterior prosthesis replacement. One mesh was removed two months after surgery. There was local recurrence in one patient and five patients died from distal metastases. The final patient is still alive with metastases at the time of presenting our results. Conclusions  Wide resection of sternal tumours provides good local control. Reconstruction with mesh and musculocutaneous flap is an effective technique for repairing such defects.     

累及胸壁的胸部肿瘤的外科治疗——胸壁切除与重建(附12例报告)

背景与目的胸部肿瘤累及胸壁是临床常见事件,若无远处转移,完整切除受累胸壁仍可获得良好疗效。本文结合12例肿瘤患者胸壁切除与重建(chest wall resection and reconstruction,CWRR)的经验就重建人工材料、软组织覆盖等方面作一介绍,并强调切除外科与重建外科合作的重要性。方法总结2005年10月-2011年4月北京大学肿瘤医院胸外一科和重建外科共同参与的CWRR 12例,详细复习自确诊至今的诊治全过程,包括术前治疗、手术方式、切除范围、重建方式,主要的局部及全身并发症及生存情况。结果 12例均为根治性手术,均行骨性胸壁切除,切除后骨性胸壁缺损为25 cm~2-700 cm~2,胸壁软组织缺损为56 cm~2-400 cm~2。骨性胸壁修补材料采用聚丙烯单丝网片(polypropylene mesh),软组织修复采用转移肌瓣、转移肌皮瓣及大网膜瓣。术后1例发生呼吸衰竭,呼吸机辅助通气1个月后痊愈,余例均无并发症,全组12例至今全部存活。结论只有切除外科和重建外科同时参与才能完成符合肿瘤原则的复杂CWRR。由切除外科主导、重建外科协助、了解并熟悉重建材料及胸壁软组织重建,是达到手术根治性及保证远期生存的关键。     

Reconstruction of the chestwall and thorax

Chest wall reconstructions can be complex and challenging procedures and may require a multidisciplinary approach. The most common indications for chest wall reconstruction are the repair of defects due to tumor ablation, infection, radiation necrosis, congenital deformities, and trauma. Flap reconstruction by plastic surgery is often required when skin is removed as part of the chest wall resection or when radiation therapy is given pre- or post-operatively. Tissue flaps may be needed to provide vascularized tissue over alloplastic materials used to stabilize the chest wall, to cover vital structures of the chest cavity, to fill dead space, and to improve cosmesis.     

Reconstructive approaches in soft tissue sarcoma.

Plastic surgical techniques continue to evolve to deal with problem wounds following soft tissue sarcoma resection. Important advances in how tissue is transferred have allowed most wounds to be closed following extirpation; the emphasis is now placed on refining these transfers while minimizing donor site injury. Reconstructive microsurgery has emerged as a frequently preferred way to resurface wounds after sarcoma resection, particularly in patients who have received radiotherapy or previous surgery. Free flaps provide well-vascularized tissue to fill dead space, cover exposed vital structures, and provide structural support and contour. These procedures demonstrate a high success rate of over 90% and often can ensure a healed wound in a single-stage operation. Creative use of the versatile rectus abdominis or latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flaps can reconstruct the majority of breast, extremity, and head and neck soft tissue defects. Endoscopic harvest of muscle flaps has minimized donor morbidity and scarring. The use of "fillet flaps" is an important concept that spares a patient donor site. Composite free flaps, including bone, are routinely used to rebuild the mandible or other bony structures. The future holds great promise for sarcoma reconstruction because tissue engineering is rapidly closing in on techniques that can duplicate tissues in the laboratory for ultimate use in reconstruction, thus sparing the donor site from disease.     

Cosmetic reconstruction after resection of breast cancer: use of the ELD-MC flap and EVRAM flap

Breast reconstruction following the resection of breast cancer with inadequate residual chest-wall tissue may be performed with an implant or a myocutaneous flap, such as the latissimus dorsi or a rectus abdominis. Among a variety of operative procedures, each method has advantages and disadvantages. The insertion of a silicone-bag prosthesis is the easiest method, but the prosthetic implant sometimes has complications, such as unfavorable capsular contracture formation around the implant, rupture, infection, or exposure. We therefore use an extended latissimus dorsi myocutaneous (ELD-MC) flap with some amount of surrounding subcutaneous fat from the lumbar area, and avoid the use of any implant with an MC flap. Also, for the reconstruction and correction of infraclavicular and axillary depression, we use the extended vertical rectus abdominis myocutaneous (EVRAM) flap. This method uses the skin and fat on both sides of the umbilicus as a lenticular flap vascularized by only one of the rectus abdominis muscles. The patients are satisfied with the outcome because symmetry and good breast volume can be obtained. There have been no functional or anatomical defects of the donor area. No abdominal hernia after an EVRAM flap has resulted to date. Both the ELD-MC and EVRAM flaps can be successfully used for cosmetic breast reconstruction after the resection of breast cancer.     

A case of thyroid cancer involving the trachea: treatment by partial tracheal resection and repair with a latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous flap

A 65 year-old man had undergone left thyroidectomy for thyroid cancer. The cancer had directly invaded the cervical esophagus and trachea and the patient was referred to our hospital for radical resection and reconstruction. Cervical computed tomography showed a mass at the left-posterior wall of the trachea. Cervical esophagectomy, resection of the left half of the trachea (6 x 3 cm) including seven rings and cervical lymph node dissection were performed. The tracheal defect was covered by a latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous flap. The patient did not lose vocal function and remains alive and well 3 years after surgery without any evidence of recurrence. Latissimus dorsi muscle flap coverage of tracheal defects seems to be a useful technique in the combined resection of the trachea.     

Endoscopic muscular latissimus dorsi flap harvesting for immediate breast reconstruction after skin sparing mastectomy.

AIM: Immediate breast reconstruction after mastectomy using the latissimus dorsi musculo-cutaneous flap is well recognized. It allows for satisfactory aesthetic results. To minimize scanning in skin sparing mastectomy patients, we used a surgical technique consisting of an endoscopic harvesting of the latissimus dorsi pure muscular flap with a virtual cavity created by CO(2) gas distention. METHOD: Between 9 April 2001 and 30 September 2001, 8 patients underwent latissimus dorsi endoscopic harvesting for an immediate breast reconstruction after skin sparing mastectomy. RESULT: The mean operating endoscopic time was 112 minutes. No open surgical conversion was necessary. The mean lymphatic drainage was 2720 ml with removal of the drainage on post operative day 15. CONCLUSION: The endoscopic harvesting of the latissimus dorsi muscular flap, using a mixed technique of dissection guided by the lighted cleaver forceps and a closed technique by CO(2) insufflation using an endoscope is feasible, reproducible and has acceptable morbidity. This technique brings encouraging aesthetic results after skin sparing mastectomy.     

Free muscle transfer with split thickness skin graft coverage in head and neck reconstructive surgery

Sixteen patients (eight females and eight males) who underwent microsurgical free tissue transfers for head and neck reconstruction are reviewed. In this series, the flap reconstruction was completed on eleven patients with extra-oral defects and five with intra-oral defects. Split thickness skin graft coverage was used in all cases. The rectus abdominis free muscle flap was used in nine patients and the latissimus dorsi free muscle flap in seven patients. The choice of tissue reconstruction was decided by the size of the surgical defect. There were no failures of the tissue transfers and skin grafts. In skilled hands, free tissue transfer provides a reliable method of head and neck reconstruction, with a low incidence of recipient and donor site complications. In extra-oral defects, coverage of free muscle transfer with split thickness skin grafts, results in a better colour match than musculocutaneous flaps, and complements the appearance and pliability of the free muscle flap.     

Reconstruction of large defects on the scalp and forehead as an interdisciplinary challenge: experience in the management of 39 cases.

AIMS: To describe options and indications for different surgical reconstruction techniques after resection of large skin tumours on the scalp taking into account an interdisciplinary approach of cranio-maxillofacial surgeon, dermatologist, and neurosurgeon, and to evaluate complications and postoperative outcome. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From a total of 39 patients with large skin tumour resections on the scalp and/or the forehead, treated between January 01, 1995 and June 30, 2005, a number of 42 surgical reconstructions were performed. The medical histories, the surgical treatment, postoperative complications, follow-up and outcome were evaluated. RESULTS: The excision defects measured 146 cm(2) (range: 80.6-546 cm(2)) on average. The most common methods for defect closure were multiple rotation-advancement flaps (n=19). Six patients were treated with split-thickness skin grafts after bone drilling for inducing granulation tissue to grow. Free latissimus dorsi muscle flaps were used in 8 patients and radial forearm flaps in 4 cases. Postoperative complications were rare. An algorithm for the surgical approach to large scalp defects was developed. CONCLUSION: For reconstruction of large defects on the scalp and forehead, various reliable methods may be used with regard to individual patient-specific parameters in cooperation with different medical specialties involved.     

巨大局部晚期乳腺癌的手术和修复

目的探讨巨大局部晚期乳腺癌的手术治疗和修复方法。方法回顾本科2006年3月至2009年5月收治的8例巨大局部晚期乳腺癌患者,其中6例为原发肿瘤,2例为复发肿瘤,对其手术和修复方法进行分析。结果本组8例患者的胸壁软组织缺损均选用皮瓣及肌皮瓣修复,其中3例行全层胸壁切除,均用钛网修复骨性缺损。本组患者术后皮瓣均存活良好,无重大并发症,无围手术期死亡。3例全层胸壁重建患者术后呼吸功能正常,未出现反常呼吸。结论大部分巨大晚期乳腺癌的患者可以手术治疗,创面修复是其重要组成部分,往往需要包括整形外科在内的多学科协作治疗,以改善患者的生存质量,创造综合治疗的条件。     

胸骨肿瘤切除钛网重建术8例报告

目的探讨胸骨肿瘤切除钛网重建的临床效果。方法回顾性总结我院2003年6月～2007年8月收治的8例胸骨肿瘤,对其临床表现、影像学表现、手术治疗方法和预后进行分析。结果破坏广泛恶性淋巴瘤2例,软骨肉瘤2例,组织细胞增生症x（嗜酸性肉芽肿）1例,恶性纤维组织细胞瘤2例,单发腺癌骨转移1例。患者均行外科切除并行钛网重建。随访2～5年,结果满意,修补物无松动或外露。结论手术切除是治疗胸骨肿瘤的有效方法,钛网是胸壁重建的理想人工材料。     

Reconstruction of the maxilla and midface: introducing a new classification

Most patients requiring midface reconstruction have had ablative surgery for malignant disease, and most require postoperative radiotherapy. This type of facial reconstruction attracts controversy, not only because of the many reconstructive options, but also because dental and facial prostheses can be very successful in selected cases. This Personal View is based on a new classification of the midface defect, which emphasises the increasing complexity of the problem. Low defects not involving the orbital adnexae can often be successfully treated with dental obturators. For the more extensive maxillary defects, there is consensus that a free flap is required. Composite flaps of bone and muscle harvested from the iliac crest with internal oblique or the scapula tip with latissimus dorsi can more reliably support the orbit and cheek than soft-tissue free flaps and non-vascularised grafts, and also enable an implant-borne dental or orbital prosthesis. Nasomaxillary defects usually require bone to augment the loss of the nasal bones, but orbitomaxillary cases can be managed more simply with local or soft-tissue free flaps. We review the current options and our own experience over the past 15 years in an attempt to rationalise the management of these defects.     

Surgical techniques for personalized oncoplastic surgery in breast cancer patients with small- to moderate-sized breasts (part 2): volume replacement

Oncoplastic breast surgery has become a popular choice of treatment for breast reconstruction after mastectomy. There are two different techniques in oncoplastic surgery depending on the volume of the excised breast tissue. One is the volume displacement procedure, which combines resection with a variety of different breast-reshaping and breast-reduction techniques; the other is the volume replacement procedure in which the volume of excised breast tissue is replaced with autologous tissue. In this study, current authors performed various volume replacement techniques based on the weight of the excised tumor and its margin of resection. We used a latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap for cases in which the resection mass was greater than 150 g, and for cases in which the resection mass was less than 150 g, we used a regional flap, such as a lateral thoracodorsal flap, a thoracoepigastric flap, or perforator flaps, such as an intercostal artery perforator flap or a thoracodorsal artery perforator flap. In the patients with small to moderate-sized breasts, when a postoperative deformity is expected due to a large-volume tumor resection, the replacement of non-breast tissue is required. Many of whom have small breasts, oncoplastic volume replacement techniques in breast-conserving surgery allow an extensive tumor excision without concern of compromising the cosmetic outcome and can be reliable and useful techniques with satisfactory aesthetic results.     

Choice of flaps for breast reconstruction

The optimal method for breast reconstruction should be safe, reliable, and accessible for every patient, and it should display little or no donor-site morbidity. After comparing mammary implants it has been found that autogenous breast reconstruction can create a ptotic, soft, symmetrical breast mound. The transverse rectus abdominis musculocutaneous flap (TRAM) remains the most popular method for autogenous reconstruction. Modern trends in breast reconstruction using the TRAM flap have promoted adequate blood supply to the flap while minimizing donor-site defects in the anterior abdominal wall. The pedicled TRAM flap remains one of the most frequently used flaps, but the indirect blood supply in this flap has required many modifications and refinements. Such modifications have included the bipedicled TRAM flap, the free TRAM flap, and the supercharged TRAM flap. To avoid donor-site morbidities, the muscle-sparing free TRAM, deep inferior epigastric perforator flap (DIEP), and superficial inferior epigastric artery (SIEA) flap were introduced. The DIEP perforator flap requires meticulous technique but offers proven reliability and a low rate of complications. As surgeons become more comfortable with harvesting DIEP flaps, the frequency of usage seems likely to increase. The latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous flap, gluteus maximus musculocutaneous flap, and others may be selected when these modifications of free TRAM flap are unavailable or unusable.     

Chest wall reconstruction after full thickness resection: an experience with 22 patients

The authors present their experience of chest wall reconstruction after full thickness resection in 22 patients. The patients are from a series of 80 patients treated by chest wall resection from 1967 to 1989. Whether performed on breasts still in place, for recurrent disease, or for radiation-induced lesions (which are often associated), the defect created by complete resection of the chest wall layers causes difficulties. Large cutaneous flaps, often including the opposite breast were used at the beginning of the series. Then came omentum associated to Mersilene mesh and myocutaneous flaps. The results, in terms of comfort and local control are acceptable, even though surgery is only palliative for cancer patients. We feel that full thickness chest wall resection is the only effective treatment for some primary and recurrent malignant tumors and for extensive thoracic radionecroses. Such procedures are designed to improve the patient's quality of life even if they do not actually prolong survival. The goals guiding the reconstruction programme are: (1) the restoration of a stable parietal rigidity; and (2) the reconstruction of long lasting superficial layers.     

Reconstruction of chest wall defects following extirpative surgery

Reconstructive procedures following chest wall resection pose a special surgical challenge. With modern surgical technique, a wide range of reconstructive options are at the surgeon's disposal and, hence it is imperative that the appropriate procedure be selected in a given patient. A total of 64 patients underwent resection of malignant chest wall tumors at the Tata Memorial Hospital. The technique of preference at our institution for reconstruction of full-thickness chest wall defects uses a combination of autogenous fascia lata and Marlexmesh. We present our experience with chest wall reconstruction following extirpative surgery in these patients. © Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Breast-sparing reconstruction with latissimus dorsi miniflaps

Volume loss following breast-conserving surgery (BCS) is the key reason for major local deformity and a bad cosmetic outcome. Latissimus dorsi miniflaps can be used to reconstruct central and upper quadrant resection defects, replacing the volume excised with autogenous tissue. Partial mastectomy, axillary dissection, flap harvest and reconstruction of the resection defect is performed as a one-stage procedure through a single lateral incision. This oncoplastic approach allows extensive local excision during BCS without cosmetic penalties in a group of patients normally treated by mastectomy.     

Use of the infra hyoid musculo-cutaneous flap in soft palate reconstruction

AIMS: To review a series of 23 consecutive patients with squamous cell carcinomas arising from oropharynx who underwent infra hyoid musculo-cutaneous flap reconstruction including soft palate in alternative to free radial forearm flap or maxillofacial prosthesis. Post operative radiotherapy was performed for all patients. RESULTS: Every reconstruction healed quickly without major wound complications. The functional results evaluated by speech and swallowing capacities, were good for 17 patients, fair for 4 patients and bad for 2. CONCLUSIONS: The infra hyoid musculo-cutaneous flap is a versatile, reliable and convenient flap suitable for repairing small and medium sized defects; it can be used in combination with other flaps, and in selected cases obviates the need for a microvascular free radial forearm flap or maxillofacial prosthesis.     

腹部皮瓣在乳房重建中的应用

乳腺癌已经成为严重危害女性身心健康的恶性肿瘤,其发病率高居榜首,且有年轻化的趋势。现阶段随着医疗的不断进步,人们越来越重视乳房的缺失对患者心理、形体造成的伤害,所以乳腺癌的外科治疗已经由传统的根治性手术朝着保乳、乳房重建的手术模式发展。国内外众多医疗机构针对乳房重建开展了大量研究和实践,根据重建填充物的不同,可以将乳房重建分为自体组织重建和植入物重建,而自体组织重建又可分为腹部皮瓣、背部皮瓣、腰部皮瓣、臀部皮瓣及腿部皮瓣,其中腹部皮瓣因其血供好、组织量够大、远期效果好且具有腹部塑型的作用被广泛用于乳房重建及胸壁缺损的修复。本文将应用腹部皮瓣进行乳房重建的技术要点和相关并发症进行总结,旨在探讨腹部皮瓣乳房重建的最新进展。     

Selective reconstructive options for the anterior skull base

Carcinomas of the ethmoid, frontal, or maxillary sinuses sometimes invade the anterior skull base. It is necessary to perform en-bloc resection for this invasive carcinoma according to the concepts of surgical treatment for head and neck cancer. The anterior skull base consists of two parts, the orbital roof as the lateral portion and the roofs of the frontal sinus, ethmoid sinus, and/or sphenoid sinus as the central portion. Selective reconstructive options for the anterior skull base depend on the size of the defect of the skull base. A dural defect is repaired by a fascia lata or a pericranial flap. After the dura has been tacked up, reconstruction of the anterior skull base is performed simultaneously with augmentation of the defect of extracranial structures. Larger defects that consist of both central and lateral portions with orbitomaxillary structures are reconstructed by a bulky musculocutaneous flap such as a rectus abdominis or latissimus dorsi flap. The bony reconstruction of supraorbital structures is also to be considered esthetically. On the other hand, intraorbital tissues are basically preserved in cases of central defects of the anterior skull base. These defects are reconstructed by a free forearm flap or a local flap such as a de-epithelialized midline forehead flap or a pericranial flap. We have selected and applied these flaps in 37 patients as reconstructive options for the anterior skull base since 1989. Eleven of the 37 patients had larger defects and 26 had central defects. De-epithelialized midline forehead flaps were used in 20 patients and were recognized to be a very useful and reliable reconstructive option for central defects of the anterior skull base.