Gastro-omental free flap for reconstruction of tongue defects

Gastro-omental flap provided a secretory mucosal surface and was beneficial in the saliva depleted patients post radiotherapy. The laparoscopic harvest of this flap has minimized donor site morbidity. One patient had a flap loss. Two patients reported superficial ulcerations on the surface, one of them had to undergo surgical debulking to correct it while the other healed with conservative measures. Speech and swallowing outcomes of the reconstructed tongue was good, especially in patients with partial glossectomy. The reconstructed gastric mucosal flaps tolerated the adjuvant radiation well.