Recipient Vessels for Free Tissue Flaps in Advanced Oncologic Defects of the Midface and Scalp

Advanced oncologic defects of the midface and scalp are a significant challenge to the reconstructive head neck surgeon, who must consider the need for midfacial projection, rehabilitation, and function restoration. Free flaps reconstruction in the midface and scalp region are the gold standard for advanced cases. There is no consensus in the literature on which recipient vessel is most suitable for performing microanastomosis using free flaps for advanced midface and scalp oncologic defect. The aim of this clinical trial is prospectively compare the results of microvascular flap reconstruction of midface and scalp advanced oncologic defects using superficial temporal versus cervical as recipient vessels. This is a parallel trial with permuted block randomization of patients who will be undergone a midface and scalp oncologic reconstruction with free tissue flap. Two groups will be analyzed: those in whom superficial temporal vessels will be used as the recipient vessels (group A) and those in whom cervical vessels will be used as the recipient vessels (group B). Allocation ratio will de 1:1 participants. Patient gender and age, cause and localization of the defect, flap choice for reconstruction, recipient vessels, intraoperative outcome, postoperative course, and complications were recorded and analyzed. Considering that this is a disease with rare staging, the calculated sample size was 26, but it will be increased by 30% (total of 34 participants who will be selected) since the death rate of these patients ranges from 8-25% A Fisher's exact test will be used to compare outcomes between the 2 groups.

Inclusion criteria

• Patients submitted to subtotal, total, or extensive radical oncologic maxillectomy, or advanced scalp oncologic defect
• Complete medical records for at least 30 days after the intervention
• Patients eligible for microanastomosis in both cervical and superficial temporal recipient vessels

Exclusion criteria

• Pregnancy or breastfeeding;
• Serious diseases (sepsis, renal and hepatic failure, severe cardiovascular diseases, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease);
• Patients with HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) with or without AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome);
• Patients with synchronous malignant neoplasms of the upper airway-digestive tract;
• Patients who died within a period of less than 30 days or who were lost to follow-up for the same period