Arterial coupling for microvascular free tissue transfer

Abstract

Objective The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the efficacy of arterial coupling. Study Design Retrospective data were collected in a consecutive series of 124 patients undergoing surgical resection of head and neck tumors followed by free tissue transfer (FTT). Methods And Measures The Unilink coupling device was used to perform arterial and venous anastomosis. Flap survival and thrombosis of the arterial anastomoses were determined. Results A total of 124 consecutive patients underwent a total of 127 microvascular FTTs. Reconstruction included 90 radial forearm, 26 fibula, 9 rectus abdominis, and 2 iliac crest myocutaneous free flaps. There were four (3.2%) complications related to arterial insufficiency in our series, three of which were salvageable. There were three (2.4%) flap failures, resulting in an overall free flap survival rate of 97.6 percent. Conclusion The flap survival with the Unilink Microvascular Anastomotic System is similar to that of standard suture techniques. Use of a coupler device is the preferred method in performing microvascular FTT at our institution.