Arterial coupling for microvascular free tissue transfer

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. (c) 2008 American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation. All rights reserved.