VASCULARIZED FASCIA AS A TRANSFERABLE BED FOR EXPERIMENTAL LARYNGEAL RECONSTRUCTION

Laryngeal defects were reconstructed with a combined vascular flap consisting of lateral thoracic fascia used as a transferable vascular bed. A buccal mucosal graft was fixed on this bed as an internal lining. An autogenous cartilage graft, circumferentially wrapped in vascular connective tissue, was used as external support. The first focus of interest of this experimental study was to investigate the necessity of epithelial lining in the repair of a full-thickness laryngeal wall defect. The second focus of interest was to study reconstruction of the posterior glottis by introducing additional supporting material.