Flap monitoring in head & neck reconstructive surgery – A review of the literature

Microvascular free flap tissue transfer is a reliable technique for the reconstruction of orofacial defects, success rates have been cited as being between 96 and 98%, with vascular compromise requiring early return to theatre reported in 5–20% of cases across the literature. It has been described that the majority of free flap compromise occurs within the first 48 h post anastomosis, and that salvage rates are proportional with the timing of the vascular insult. Strategies adopted to identify early signs of compromise and hence improve the chances of flap survival are many, and protocols vary between units. On review of the literature, diligent bedside clinical monitoring of free flaps in the early post-operative period, seemed to facilitate detection of vascular compromise, allowing for early salvage, and hence better outcomes. Monitoring adjuncts such implantable doppler devices may prove helpful in such cases but false positives and negatives should be kept in mind. It would seem appropriate that future research should centre on evaluating adjunctive techniques to close bedside monitoring with a focus on clinically relevant outcome measures as well as cost/benefit analyses.