Submental Artery Perforator Flap Research Articles

Submental Artery Perforator Flap Drained Solely With the Vena Comitans of Facial Artery.

The submental artery perforator flap (SMAPF) is an alternative to reconstruct oral and maxillofacial defects secondary to oral cancers. However, vascular anomalies or surgical damage often lead to vascular crises or harvest failure. Our clinical findings suggest that the vena comitans of the facial artery (cFA) very commonly exist. This study aimed to investigate the reliability of the cFA as a sole venous reflux route for the SMAPF. The patients were from the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Hospital of Stomatology, Jilin University. All patients were treated for oral cancer between January 2016 and September 2022. Seventeen SMAPFs were successfully raised to reconstruct the postoperative defects, of which 7 had cFA as the sole reflux route. The size of the flaps varied from 4.0×3.0cm to 12.0×3.0cm. All flaps survived. Patients were followed from 1 month to 5 years. Satisfactory restoration of contour and functional outcomes were achieved at the recipient sites. The scars were well camouflaged in the submental region. No local or regional recurrence was detected during follow-up. Patients had an overall 2-year survival rate of 100% with no suspected flaps-related recurrence. The cFA as the sole venous reflux route for SMAPF is reliable for flap harvesting and is applicable for immediate defect reconstruction secondary to cancer resection.

Repair of postoperative defects of oral cancer with submental island flaps based on vascular pedicles of different states: a multicenter retrospective study

Submental island flap has certain advantages in repairing postoperative defects of oral cancer, and it can often achieve similar or even better effects compared with those of the free tissue flap. In this study, according to the different characteristics of patients and postoperative defects of oral cancer, submental island flaps with different states of vascular pedicle were prepared, and its repair methods, safety, and clinical effects in treating postoperative defects of oral cancer were investigated. 83 patients with oral cancer who met the inclusion criteria were selected. According to the different characteristics of the patients and postoperative defects of oral cancer, the traditional submental island flap vascular pedicle was modified into three different states: submental artery perforator flap, vascular pedicled flap with the anterior belly of digastric muscle but without the submandibular gland (SIF with anterior belly of DM), and vascular pedicled flap with the anterior belly of the digastric muscle and the submandibular gland (SIF with anterior belly of DM and SG). The types of the submental artery and the drainage vein, flap survival, and complications, were observed. The flap was successfully harvested for all patients, and the submental artery could be found or separated for all of them, with the venous drainage to the internal jugular vein in 57 (57/83, 68.67%), to the external jugular vein in 18 (18/83, 21.69%), and to the anterior jugular vein in eight (8/83, 9.64%) cases. Submental artery perforator flap was used for 11 cases, complete necrosis occurred in two cases (2/11, 18.18%), partial necrosis occurred in one case (1/11, 9.09%); SIF with anterior belly of DM was used for 49 cases, complete necrosis occurred in one case (1/49, 2.04%), partial necrosis occurred in four cases (4/49, 8.16%); SIF with anterior belly of DM and SG was used for 23 cases, including chimeric flap combining the submental island flap and the submandibular gland used for 15 cases, there were no cases of complete or partial necrosis. Submental island flap was effective in repairing postoperative defects of oral cancer. Submental island flaps with three different states of vascular pedicle could repair oral cancer-affected tissues with different defect characteristics.

Thin submental artery perforator flap for upper lip reconstruction: A case report

Reconstruction of upper lip defects can be challenging even for experienced surgeons. In order to restore both function and morphology, the use of quality soft tissue is essential. To this effect, the most common solution is the use of local flaps, or, in extreme situations, a free flap. However, a thin cutaneous upper lip defect may require a different approach. Perforator flaps are versatile and may allow an efficient reconstruction of soft tissue defects using adjacent similar tissues, providing the benefit of "like with like" coverage. We present the case of a 41-year-old female with a 1 × 1.5 cm basal cell carcinoma of the right-side upper lip, initially treated with a full thickness skin graft. Due to poor aesthetic and functional result, a thin submental artery perforator (SMAP) flap reconstruction was performed. Flaps' dimensions were 6 cm long and 4 cm wide and it was based on a perforator arising from the submental artery. Dissection was conducted above the platysma muscle, and the SMAP flap was transferred into the defect through a subcutaneous tunnel created below the mandible and posterior to the anterior belly of digastric muscle. The pedicle length of 6.5 cm was adequate for a tension free inset of the flap. Postoperative course was uneventful and the patient was discharged after 2 days. The 4-month follow-up showed a satisfying functional and aesthetic outcome with a concealed donor site scar. This report points out the coverage potential of the thin SMAP flap, which can be successfully used for a harmonious reconstruction in both color and texture of the upper lip.

Application of submental artery perforator flap in reconstruction surgery in pharyngeal carcinoma

Objective: To evaluate clinical applications and efficacy of submental artery perforator flap in reconstruction surgery after removal of pharyngeal carcinoma. Methods: A total of 27 patients in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University were included, 23 males and 4 females with age from 40 to 70 years old, and 17 patients were hypopharyngeal carcinoma (HPC) and 10 patients were oropharyngeal carcinoma (OPC). All patients underwent tumor resection followed by simultaneously reconstruction surgery using submental artery perforator flap between January 2015 and December 2019. Of 5 patients with palatine tonsil cancer, 4 underwent the combined approach of neck and oral resection and 1 with madibulotomy. All 5 patients with tongue base cancer received transhyoid partial glossotomy with or without partial laryngectomy. Sixteen patients with pyriform sinus carcinoma received partial laryngo-pharyngectomy with preservation of laryngeal functions. One patient with posterior hypopharyngeal wall carcinoma had partial pharyngectomy. Prognosis and laryngeal functions were analyzed after reconstruction surgery with submental artery perforator flap in patients with pharyngeal carcinoma. Results: The 27 patients were followed up for 6-66 months, with a median of 13 months, of them 24 patients were alive without recurrence or metastasis, 1 patient died of recurrence, 1 patient died of esophageal carcinoma and 1 patient was alive with the recurrence of tongue base carcinoma. Postoperative complications included flap failure for 1 case, pharyngeal fistula for 1 case, subcutaneous hydrops for 2 cases and lymphatic fistula for 1 case. Total 2 and 3 year survival rates were 92.9% and 88.9%, respectively. Total decanulation rate was 92.6%; decanulation rate and intubation time were 16/17 and 3.5 months in HPC patients; and decanulation rate and intubation time were 9/10 and 2 months in OPC patients. Total oral feeding rate was 92.6% and nasogastric feeding time was 3.5 weeks in HPC patients and 3 weeks in OPC patients. Conclusion: The submental artery perforator flap is an excellent choice for reconstruction surgery after removal of oropharyngeal and hypopharyngeal carcinoma, with good outcomes of laryngeal functions.

Surgical anatomy of the submental artery perforator flap and assessment for application in postoperative reconstruction following oral cancer surgery: a prospective clinical study

The submental artery perforator flap (SMAPF) has an elongated pedicle, allowing good cosmetic outcomes to be achieved following oral reconstruction surgery. The improper dissection of perforators often leads to a vascular flap crisis. To avoid this, some surgeons choose to carry amounts of connective tissue around the pedicle. However the inclusion of connective tissue on the pedicle raises concerns about oncological safety. A surgical anatomical study of the submental vessel patterns and subdivisions of the cervical level I lymph nodes was conducted on 33 patients with primary oral cancer who underwent reconstruction with a SMAPF after tumour resection. The variations in vessels and cervical level I lymph nodes observed during SMAPF harvesting were recorded and analyzed. Two patterns of submental artery perforators and three patterns of submental veins were identified. The different characteristics of the lymph node distribution were elucidated for five subdivisions. All SMAPFs survived (n=33, 100%); however, two SMAPFs exhibited partial losses. The 3-year survival rate of patients was 84.5±6.4%, and there were no suspected flap-related recurrences. With detailed anatomical information on the vascular system and lymph node subdivision, SMAPFs are a reliable choice for postoperative reconstruction following oral cancer surgery, meeting the standards for oncological safety.

Assessment of surgical outcomes and oncological safety for submental artery perforator flap reconstruction after ablation of oral cancer

The submental artery perforator flap (SAPF) has been a new option for the intraoral reconstruction of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patients in recent years, but its surgical outcomes have not been well assessed. We compared the surgical outcomes and oncological safety of SAPF reconstruction for medium-sized soft-tissue defects after the ablation of primary oral cancer with traditional submental island flaps (SIF) and anterolateral thigh perforator flaps (ALTPF). Fifty-one SAPFs, 30 SIF, and 74 ALTPF were reviewed for the intraoral medium-sized reconstructions after the ablation of oral cancer from our institutional clinical oncological databases. We performed comparative assessments on the variables of surgical outcome and oncological safety among the 3 cohorts. A Kaplan-Meier estimate of survival for each flap was calculated. Operating time was significantly reduced in the SIF and SAPF groups than ALTPF (p = 0.021 and 0.014, respectively). Flap thickness of SAPF was the significantly thinnest (mean 0.5 cm) among three groups. The common complications of donor site for both SAPF and SIF group were incision dehiscence and orocutaneous fistula. There was no significant difference in disease-free survival (DFS) among the 3 groups. However, several OSCC patients with the SIF reconstruction were found to have recurrences with a metastatic lymph node under the flap after the first operation. SAPF could be a versatile choice of the intraoral reconstruction for the medium-sized soft-tissue defects after the ablation of oral cancer.

Are contralateral submental artery perforator flaps feasible for the reconstruction of postoperative defects of oral cancer?

We evaluated the clinical applications of the reconstruction of postoperative defects of the oral cavity using contralateral submental artery flaps. A retrospective study of 18 patients with postoperative intraoral cancer defects reconstructed with contralateral submental artery perforator flaps between October 2018 and October 2019 in our department was conducted. The defect area, flap size, and complications were evaluated. All patients were diagnosed based on pathological examinations: 2 with adenoid cystic carcinoma and 16 with squamous cell carcinoma. The submental artery perforator flap used for simultaneous repair was 8 to 15 cm in length and 4 to 6.5 cm in width. The survival rate of flap reconstruction was 100% with no donor site complications. Contralateral submental artery flap reconstruction is a suitable alternative for moderate to large intraoral defects, postoperative mouth floor defects, and oral cavity composite defects of oral malignant tumors without contralateral lymph node metastases.

A comparative study between submandibular-facial artery island flaps (including perforator flap) and submental artery perforator flap: A novel flap in oral cavity reconstruction

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to introduce submandibular-facial artery island flaps (S-FAIF), including the perforator flap, and to evaluate their application for intraoral reconstruction in comparison with submental artery perforator flaps (SMAPF). MethodsNinety-six patients who underwent intraoral reconstruction using an S-FAIF (n = 34) or SMAPF (n = 62) after cancer resection were recruited in this study. The flap characteristics (viz., pedicle length, flap size, venous drainage pattern, and harvest time), short-term outcomes (viz., flap partial loss, intraoral wound dehiscence, fistula, and wound infection), and long-term morbidity (viz., facial nerve palsy, neck motion restriction, and hair growth) were compared. ResultsNine S-FAIFs were authentic perforator flaps pedicled by level Ⅰ facial artery perforators, while the rest were island flaps based on level Ⅱ facial artery perforators. The survival rates of S-FAIF and SMAPF were both 100 percent. Flap partial loss occurred in two patients in each group. The pedicle length of S-FAIF was shorter than that of SMAPF (p < 0.001). Statistics analysis revealed no significant difference regarding flap size, venous drainage pattern, short-term outcomes, neck motion restriction, or facial nerve palsy between the groups. S-FAIF required less harvest time (p < 0.001) and experienced less hair growth when compared to SMAPF (p = 0.011). ConclusionsThe S-FAIF is a robust and reliable novel flap and on par with SMAPF for reconstruction of small and medium-sized intraoral defects. It is preferred to SMAPF when technical requirements for flap harvest and hair problems are considered. It should be supplemented to the armamentarium for intraoral reconstruction.

Advances on anatomic study and clinical application of submental artery island flap

After more than 20 years of development, submental artery island flap (SMAIF) has become a versatile flap for head and neck reconstruction of the defects after tumor resection,trauma or facial deformity.The design of SMAIF is flexible and diverse. According to repair requirements,various types of flap can be harvested based on the different composition. SMAIF mainly used as an orthograde pedicled flap.It also can be used as a retrograde, free or hybrid variant.More modifications such as bipaddled, bipedicled, pre-expanded,deepithelialized were evolved. SMAIF shows some advantages including reliable blood supply, convenient preparation, well matched color with the facial skin, and the similar or even better repair effect compared with free flaps.In addition,the submental artery perforator flap and the submental vascularized lymph node flap are the latest clinical application achievements derived from the progress of anatomic research.They further improve the level of preparation skill and expand the indications of SMAIF.

Clinical application of submental artery perforator flap in oral and maxillofacial defect restoration after tumor resection

Objective: To summarize the clinical anatomical features and surgical technique of the submental artery perforator flap (SMAPF), and to evaluate the outcome and value of the flap for oral cavity reconstruction after cancer ablation. Methods: A total of 56 patients with oral cancer were included in this study. The modified SMAPF excluded the anterior belly of the digastric muscle and submental fatty tissue. The primary sites of malignancy were buccal mucosa (n=24), tongue (n=21), mandibular gingiva (n=6), mouth floor (n=3), soft palate (n=2). Results: The flap size varied from 3 cm×5 cm to 5 cm×12 cm. Four flaps presented mild venous congestion, which was salvaged with conservative measures such as acupuncture and blood letting. Overall flap survival rate was 100%. The SMAPF with septocutaneous perforator was used in 49 cases and with musculocutaneous perforator in seven cases. External jugular vein and internal jugular vein provides venous drainage were applied in half cases respectively. All the patients showed a good recovery of tongue mobility and mouth opening with a follow-up of 3-41 months. Local recurrence was detected in one patient 4 months after operation. Conclusions: The SMAPF is a reliable flap for oral cavity reconstruction with outstanding functional and aesthetic outcomes.

Reconstruction of intraoral defects after resection of cancer with two types of submental artery perforator flaps

The submental island flap is a common choice for reconstruction of intraoral defects. To obtain a thinner, more pliable flap and get a better oncological result, the submental artery perforator flap has been proposed, and to assess its feasibility for closure of defects after resection of cancers of the oral cavity we studied 20 patients, each of whom was treated in this way. All the flaps were classified into those with septocutaneous perforators (n=16) and those with musculocutaneous perforators (n=4), and the main veins that drained the flaps were two submental veins (n=17). There were two patterns of venous drainage: in pattern 1 (n=9) the external jugular vein provided the primary venous drainage, and in pattern 2, the submental veins drained mainly into the facial vein, the common facial vein, and the internal jugular (n=10). In one patient the submental veins bypassed the facial vein to drain into the internal jugular. Eighteen of the 20 patients had no postoperative complications. The remaining two developed mild venous congestion of the flaps, which was resolved with conservative management and no skin loss. No local or regional recurrence was detected after a mean (range) follow-up of 21 (4-35) months. This is a simple, reliable flap that can be used for the reconstruction of intraoral defects after resections for cancer, but its oncological outcome still requires proof in long-term, large-scale, clinical trials.

Progress of anatomic research and clinical application of facial artery perforator flap

To summarize the present status and progress of the anatomy researches and clinical application of the facial artery perforator flap (FAPF). The relative researches focused on the anatomy researches and clinical application of FAPF were extensively reviewed, analyzed, and summarized. The facial artery perforator (FAP) has constant anatomy. There are more facial artery perforators in the perioral region, and each FAP has two accompanying veins. Distinguished by inferior mandibular border, the upper and the lower flaps both are used for reconstruction of defects on the face. The most widely-used upper flap was FAPF, which is excellent choice of defects in mid-face. Additionally, angular artery perforator flap and lateral nasal artery perforator flap are becoming more and more popular. While submental artery perforator flap, whose pedicle locates under inferior mandibular border, is most used for reconstruction of lower face. FAPF for face defect repair can achieve good outcomes of function and appearance in clinical application. Based on multiple advantages of good aesthetics and function outcomes, high survival rate, flexible design, and simple operation, FAPF is an optimal choice for defect repair of perioral region and nasal ala. However, Further study is needed to determine whether retaining tissue around the pedicle will affect vein reflux of the flap.

Submental Artery Flap with Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy in the Reconstruction of Oral Cancer

Microvascular free flaps form the gold standard for reconstruction of defects after intraoral cancer surgery, but not all patients are suitable candidates for microsurgery. The submental artery flap is an alternative to free tissue transfer especially in patients who do not tolerate extensive operations due to major comorbidities. However, in metastatic neck disease, this option has not been recommended due to theoretical intraoral transfer of cancer cells. The aim of this study was to consider the indications and benefits of the submental artery perforator flap in patients with intraoral cancer. Ten patients with early (N = 2) or locally advanced (N = 8) intraoral cancer, who were not candidates for free tissue transfer because of major comorbidities, were managed with tumor resection and coverage of the defect with the submental artery flap. The minimum follow-up time for all patients was 6 years. The average defect size was 5 × 9 cm. Two patients developed major complications and one of them had a flap loss. Sentinel lymph node biopsy was used in three cases to rule out positive neck disease close to the flap pedicle. During the follow-up time 6 out of 10 patients had a local recurrence and there were no appearances of metastatic neck disease. The submental artery flap is an alternative option to intraoral microvascular reconstruction in patients with major comorbidities. Sentinel lymph node biopsy can be used as an adjunct to enhance oncological safety.

Reconstruction of Lower Face with Submental Artery Perforator Flap

Reconstruction of Lower Face with Submental Artery Perforator Flap

Reconstruction of Lower Face Defect or Deformity With Submental Artery Perforator Flaps

Reconstruction of lower face defects or deformity often presents as a challenge for plastic surgeons. Many methods, including skin graft, tissue expander, or free flap are introduced. Submental artery perforator flaps have been used in the reconstruction of defects or deformities of the lower face. Between August 2006 and December 2008, 22 patients with lower face defects or deformity underwent reconstruction with pedicled submental artery perforator flaps. Their age ranged between 14 and 36 years. The perforator arteries were detected and labeled with a hand-held Doppler flowmeter. The size of flaps ranged from 4 × 6 to 6 × 7 cm, and the designed flaps included the perforator artery. All the flaps survived well, except 1 flap which resulted in partial necrosis in distal region and healed after conservative therapy. No other complication occurred with satisfactory aesthetic appearance of the donor site. The submental artery perforator flap is a thin and reliable flap with robust blood supply. This flap can reduce donor-site morbidity significantly and is a good choice for reconstructive surgery of lower face.

True submental artery perforator flap for total soft‐tissue chin reconstruction

MicrosurgeryVolume 32, Issue 6 p. 502-504 Letter to the Editor True submental artery perforator flap for total soft-tissue chin reconstruction Shirley Potter M.D., Shirley Potter M.D. Department of Plastic Surgery, St James's Hospital, Dublin, IrelandSearch for more papers by this authorCatherine De Blacam M.D., Catherine De Blacam M.D. Department of Plastic Surgery, St James's Hospital, Dublin, IrelandSearch for more papers by this authorDamir Kosutic M.D. Ph.D., Corresponding Author Damir Kosutic M.D. Ph.D. dkosutic@hotmail.com Department of Plastic Surgery, St James's Hospital, Dublin, IrelandConsultant Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon, Department of Plastic Surgery, St James's Hospital, James's Street, Dublin 8, IrelandSearch for more papers by this author Shirley Potter M.D., Shirley Potter M.D. Department of Plastic Surgery, St James's Hospital, Dublin, IrelandSearch for more papers by this authorCatherine De Blacam M.D., Catherine De Blacam M.D. Department of Plastic Surgery, St James's Hospital, Dublin, IrelandSearch for more papers by this authorDamir Kosutic M.D. Ph.D., Corresponding Author Damir Kosutic M.D. Ph.D. dkosutic@hotmail.com Department of Plastic Surgery, St James's Hospital, Dublin, IrelandConsultant Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon, Department of Plastic Surgery, St James's Hospital, James's Street, Dublin 8, IrelandSearch for more papers by this author First published: 31 March 2012 https://doi.org/10.1002/micr.21983Citations: 9Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article.Citing Literature Volume32, Issue6September 2012Pages 502-504 RelatedInformation

Three-dimensional angiography of the submental artery perforator flap

The submental flap, based on a large branch of the facial artery, is an excellent flap option which is most commonly used for head and neck reconstruction. The purpose of this report is to clarify aspects of the anatomy of the submental flap in order to improve the utility of this flap. Ten cadavers were injected with a modified lead oxide-gelatin mixture. Four cadavers were selected for three-dimensional reconstruction using a spiral computed tomography scanner and specialised volume-rendering software. Dissection, angiography and photography of each layer were performed to outline the course of every perforator in the neck. The area of the vascular territory supplied by each source vessel was calculated. Surface areas were measured using Scion Image software. The skin and muscles on the anterior neck and mandible are nourished by several arterial perforators: facial artery, superior thyroid artery, mental artery, lingual artery and the submental artery. The diameter of the submental artery was 1.7 ± 0.4mm at its origin from the facial artery. It sends 1.8 ± 0.6 perforators to the skin on its course towards the chin. The average size of the territory supplied was 45 ± 10.2 cm(2). Its largest perforating branch arises from behind the medial border of the anterior belly of the digastric muscle. There were multiple anastomoses between perforators from the submental artery, facial artery and sublingual artery. This study clarifies the anatomy of the submental flap and provides a three-dimensional understanding to this important head and neck donor site.

Submental Artery Perforator Flap for a Melanoma Defect

Submental Artery Perforator Flap for a Melanoma Defect

A Case of Severe Moderate-temperature Facial Burn Due to a Heated Floor in a Japanese Sauna

We describe a case of severe facial burn caused by a heated floor. A 63-year-old man with a history of diabetes mellitus fell asleep on a heated floor in a Japanese sauna after drinking a large quantity of alcohol. He sustained a severe moderate-temperature burn of the nose, upper lip, left cheek, and left earlobe. After the patient's general condition had improved, the affected areas were debrided and reconstructed with flaps. The skin and subcutaneous defect of the upper lip were reconstructed with a submental artery perforator flap. The flap survived completely, and the aesthetic result was good because of a simultaneously reconstructed mustache. The pathogenesis of the moderate-temperature burn is explained by the temperature-time curve and is due mainly to a disorder of blood circulation and the individual's condition. We believe that the number of persons sustaining such burns in saunas will increase because of recent health trends in Japan. Therefore, the danger of such burns should be publicized.

A case of upper lip and moustache reconstruction using a submental artery perforator (SMAP) flap

The conventional submental island flap is raised based on the digastric muscle belly. Elevation of the flap using a perforator pedicle without the use of muscle has been reported, and the submental perforator was demonstrated as being reliable. In this paper, simultaneous reconstruction of the upper lip and moustache is described; this illustrates the usefulness of this flap. A 63-year-old male sustained a facial burn in a steam bath. A third degree burn occurred on his upper lip; the central area necrosed completely. Upper lip reconstruction was planned using a submental perforator-based flap. The flap was elevated without using the digastric muscle. The perforator consisted of a large artery and a small vein. After the elevation of the flap, a subcutaneous tunnel was made on the cheek and the flap was passed through the tunnel. The lip defect was reconstructed, and the donor site was closed primarily without tension. The flap survived completely.