Salpingopharyngeus myomucosal flap.

OBJECTIVES: Improvements in the efficacy of extended endonasal approaches to resect skull base pathologies have created the need for new reconstructive alternatives. Hereby, we describe a novel pedicled myomucosal flap that allows the reconstruction of dural defects in the lower clivus and craniovertebral junction or to cover the paraclival and petrous segments of the internal carotid artery. STUDY DESIGN: Anatomic description. Technical report. Feasibility. METHODS: We describe a myomucosal flap with a cephalic pedicle based on the salpingopharyngeus muscle and its vessels. Subsequently, using a cadaveric model, we harvested the flap and explored its potential for the reconstruction of various dural defects or to cover the internal carotid artery. RESULTS: Our study confirmed the feasibility of harvesting and transposing the myomucosal salpingopharyngeus (Dicle flap) flap for the reconstruction of inferior clival and craniovertebral junction defects or to cover the petrous and paraclival segments of the internal carotid artery. CONCLUSIONS: The Dicle flap is a feasible, reconstructive alternative for the reconstruction of select small- to medium-sized defects of the posterior and inferior aspects of the ventral skull base.