TITLE:
The Pectoralis Major Myocutaneous Pedicled Flap Revisited
AUTHORS:
Shinichi Asamura, Hirohiko Kakizaki, Kazunori Mori, Kazuhide Matsunaga, Wada Mitsuhiro, Noritaka Isogai
KEYWORDS:
Pectoralis Major Myocutaneous Pedicled Flap; Head and Neck Reconstruction; Flap Loss; Breast Disfigurement
JOURNAL NAME:
Surgical Science,
Vol.4 No.9,
August
20,
2013
ABSTRACT: The pectoralis major myocutaneous pedicle flap (PMMF) is still being
used by many surgeons and plays an important role in head and neck
reconstruction. The purpose of this series was to review our 10 years’
experience with the PMMF in head and neck reconstruction. One
hundred and two patients who underwent the PMMF technique were reviewed on the
clinical records. Postoperative complications were classified into flap loss,
hemorrhage, infection, fistula formation, wound dehiscence and donor site
complication. Eighty two patients (80.4%) demonstrated no complication. Six patients
among 102 patients (5.9%) demonstrated total or partial skin necroses. Three
female patients were completely dissatisfied with the cosmetic appearance after
the PMMF. One of them required a reconstructive surgery with the latissimusdorsi
flap. Without surgical expertise in plastic surgical field, an ear-nose-throat
or an oral surgeon can performed the PMMF technique provided the operator is
well aware of serious and frequent complications of this “workhorse” procedure.