Hongaiah D, Kattepur AK, George EV, Mahadev M A, Kenkere D, Dasappa A. Free flap reconstruction at a rural-based tertiary medical college hospital: Barriers and outcomes.
J Surg Oncol 2024;
129:1159-1164. [PMID:
38414222 DOI:
10.1002/jso.27607]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
In a rural-based setting, providing optimal treatment is often difficult owing to the limited resources and financial constraints being rampant in cancer care delivery. Oncological resections often result in large, complex defects requiring free flap reconstruction to achieve cosmetic and/or functional goals. This article focuses on our experience of starting and promoting microvascular reconstruction in a rural tertiary medical college hospital.
METHODS
Retrospective observational study of patients undergoing free flap reconstruction for oncological indications was included. Standard oncological principles were followed for cancer extirpation. Free flap reconstruction was done using loupes of 4× magnification. Flap-related outcomes and barriers in doing free flap reconstruction were analysed.
RESULTS
A total of 56 patients were included. The most common free flap undertaken was free anterolateral thigh flap in 21 (37.5%) patients. The mean duration of reconstruction was 438 min. Re-exploration was undertaken in 17 patients (30.4%). Nonsalvageable flap loss was 19.64%. Adjuvant treatment was administered in all patients as per oncological indications, albeit with some delay in 12.5%. Barriers to reconstruction were noted in the pre-, intra- and postoperative periods.
CONCLUSION
Reconstruction with free flaps is feasible in a resource-constrained setup with careful planning and a multidisciplinary team approach to overcome the barriers.
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