Larynx reconstruction

General principles

Tracheal autotransplantation will allow for a functional treatment with preservation of all functions after removal of advanced cancer. The gray colored area indicates a tumor on 1 side of the larynx. The bright area indicates the amount of resection that is necessary to remove the tumor. The laryngeal defect will be reconstructed with the upper part of the trachea.

The upper part of the trachea will provide for the optimal tissue to reconstruct the laryngeal defect (tracheal autotransplantation). The upper part of the trachea needs a new blood supply before autotransplantation can take place. Well-vascularized tissue from the forearm (‘radial forearm fascia flap’) will give a new blood supply to the tracheal transplant.

Two operations are necessary to do the reconstruction (1 and 2). The trachea will obtain a new blood supply by wrapping the trachea in vascularized tissue from the forearm (1). The fascial enwrapped trachea is transplanted into the laryngeal defect (2).

 
General principles: click on the blue letters to view the consecutive images
 
Original
(1)
(2)

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