How should indocyanine green dye angiography be assessed to best predict mastectomy skin flap necrosis? A systematic review.

INTRODUCTION: The incidence of skin flap necrosis after mastectomies is as high as 11-24%. Laser-assisted indocyanine green (ICG) angiography seems to be a promising technique to assess skin flap perfusion. The aim of this systematic review is to assess the current methodology of ICG and its objective outcome measures ability to predict mastectomy skin flap necrosis. METHODS: A PubMed search was conducted on the 31 December 2018 using ((("Fluorescein Angiography"[Mesh]) OR ("Indocyanine Green"[Mesh])) AND "Mastectomy"[Mesh]). This systematic review was performed in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. We included data about the study size, study design, skin flap necrosis, camera details and the objective outcome parameters. RESULTS: Of 51 results, 22 abstracts were considered relevant of which nine were excluded secondarily. A reference check resulted in three extra inclusions. Sixteen papers were reviewed focusing on their methods and our primary endpoint which was the objective outcome measures of ICG. Objective outcome measures were reported in 8 of 16 studies. They mainly include absolute perfusion units and relative perfusion units (RPUs). All studies revealed a substantial decrease in skin necrosis when the ICG was used. The absolute number of units considered to be predictive for necrosis varies greatly; RPUs have been quite well established and are considered to be predictive for necrosis between 15.6% and 41.6%. However, consensus for methods, numbers and parameters is lacking. CONCLUSION: ICG evaluation of skin perfusion is a promising technique to aid in the surgeon's decision-making, and this seems to decrease skin flap necrosis after mastectomy.

Fibula osteo-adipofascial flap for reconstruction of a cervical spine and posterior pharyngeal wall defect.

When reconstructing combined defects of the cervical spine and the posterior pharyngeal wall the goals are bone stability along with continuity of the aerodigestive tract. We present a case of a patient with a cervical spine defect, including C1 to C3, associated with a posterior pharyngeal wall defect after excision of a chordoma and postoperative radiotherapy. The situation was successfully solved with a free fibula osteo-adipofascial flap. The reconstruction with a fibula osteo-adipofascial flap provided several benefits in comparison with a fibula osteo-cutaneous flap in our case, including an easier insetting of the soft tissue component at the pharyngeal level and less bulkiness of the flap allowing our patient to resume normal deglutition.