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Use of a sternocleidomastoid muscle flap to protect the carotid artery during laryngectomy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 May 2021

J C Fleming ,
A R Fuson ,
H Jeyarajan ,
C M Thomas  and
B Greene
J C Fleming*
Affiliation:
Liverpool Head and Neck Centre and Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK
A R Fuson
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center – New Orleans, New Orleans, USA
H Jeyarajan
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, USA
C M Thomas
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, USA
B Greene
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, USA
*
Author for correspondence: Mr Jason C Fleming, Liverpool Head and Neck Centre, Aintree University Hospital, Lower Lane, LiverpoolL9 7AL, UK E-mail: Jason.fleming@liverpool.ac.uk
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Abstract

Objectives

This paper describes a simple method of securing tissue coverage of the great vessels at the initial surgery by rotating the divided sternal heads of the sternocleidomastoid muscle, a routine step during laryngectomy, and approximating them to the prevertebral fascia. The paper presents an illustrated case example where this technique in a salvage laryngectomy repair resulted in a protected vascular axis following a salivary leak.

Results

Since utilising this technique, there has been a marked reduction in the requirement of subsequent flap procedures to protect vessels, and no episodes of threatened or actual carotid blowout.

Keywords

Head And Neck CancerLaryngectomy
Type
Short Communications
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 135 , Issue 6 , June 2021 , pp. 547 - 550
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press

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Footnotes

Mr J C Fleming takes responsibility for the integrity of the content of the paper

References

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