Posterior external jugular vein: a useful alternative recipient vessel in head and neck free flap reconstructions

Abstract

In a case of radical cancer ablation, the external jugular vein (EJV) and internal jugular vein (IJV) are sometimes inevitably eliminated. We report the utilization of posterior external jugular veins (PEJV) for recipients in head and neck microvascular free flap reconstruction. This is a report of two male patients, who had defects successfully reconstructed using posterior external jugular veins (PEJV) as recipient vessels. Since the IJV, EJV and adjacent veins had been totally excised in both cases, PEJV were utilized as recipient vessels without any complications. The cases pioneer use of PEJV as alternative recipient vessels in head and neck microvascular reconstruction. Level of evdence: Level V, therapeutic study