Microvascular reconstruction in the vessel depleted neck - A systematic review

Overall, 325 patient cases were included in the study. 112 postsurgical complications were noted (34.5%) and 12 deaths were reported (3.7%). The most common flaps harvested were the anterolateral-thigh flap (n = 85, 25.8%), the radial forearm flap (n = 78, 23.7%) and the flaps from the trunk (n = 31, 9.4%). The arteries most frequently used for anastomosis were the internal mammary artery (n = 81; 28%), the transverse cervical artery (n = 46; 15.9%) and the superficial temporal artery (n = 43; 14.9%). The cephalic vein (n = 84; 25.9%), the internal mammary vein (n = 79; 24.4%) and the superficial temporal vein (n = 50; 15.4%) were the most successfully applied veins.