ORIGINAL ARTICLE INTERNAL MAMMARY ARTERY AND VEIN: RECIPIENT VESSELS FOR FREE TISSUE TRANSFER TO THE HEAD AND NECK IN THE VESSEL-DEPLETED NECK

Abstract: Background. Microvascular free tissue transfer is a standard reconstructive option for postablative defects of the head and neck. However, the success of this surgery requires suitable recipient vessels in the cervical region. This form of reconstruction can be particularly challenging in the vessel-depleted neck. While the internal mammary artery and vein (IMA/V) have been used extensively in breast reconstruction, there are few reports describing their use in head and neck reconstruction. We report the first case series of the use of the internal mammary vessels for head and neck microvascular reconstruction. Methods. We reviewed 5 cases of free tissue transfers to the head and neck in which extensive prior treatment precluded the use of more traditional recipient vessels in the neck or upper chest