Flap Fenestration and Facial Organ Fabrication Guided by ICGA

Completed

• Conditions: Surgery
• Interventions: Procedure: total face reconstruction surgery and intraoperative indocyanine green angiography

• Registration Number: NCT05360355
• Lead Sponsor: Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University

Brief Summary

In this retrospective study, patients with severe head and neck deformity were treated with monoblock pre-expanded prefabricated flaps for total face restoration. The opening of nostrils, oral and palpebral orifices, together with organ fabrication, were conducted under the guidance of intraoperative ICGA for hemodynamic evaluation. The hemodynamic analysis of flap perfusion before and after fenestration. Postoperative follow-up including vascular crisis, infection, flap necrosis and patients' aesthetic and functional recovery.

Detailed Description

The study included patients with severe head and neck deformity treated by our reconstructive team from Jun 2018 to Jun 2021, with monoblock pre-expanded flaps from the anterior chest, abdomen or back. For flap harvested from the chest, flap prefabrication was conducted in the first stage. In brief, the full length of the descending branch of the lateral circumflex femoral artery, vein and surrounding fascia were harvested and transferred as a free vascular carrier to the subcutaneous space on the anterior thoracic region. The pedicle vessels were anastomosed to the superior thyroid or facial vessels. A rectangular tissue expander was placed underneath the vascular carrier for expansion. In the second stage, the prefabricated flap was transferred to the pedicle vessel to replace the facial defects. Notably, dominant perforators were detected preoperatively and preserved during flap harvest for potential vascular anastomosis. For flaps from the abdomen and back, flaps were harvested as multi-pedicle free flaps. Exclusion criteria included severe liver, kidney or lung insufficiency, and allergy to iodine products.

Upon flap transfer to the face, a 2 mL bolus of ICG (2.5mg/mL) was administrated intravenously and the fluorescence signals were detected by a SPY imaging system (Novadaq Technologies, Inc., Canada). The course of each nourishing vessels and their respective perfusion territory were assessed. During flap fenestration, the opening of oral orifice was given the highest priority, followed by nostrils and palpebral orifices. If the region intended for flap fenestration was well perfused and did not contain major communicating branches or the penetration point of perforators, orifices would be opened directly. In the event of insufficient blood supply, additional vascular anastomosis would be considered for perfusion augmentation, and ICGA would be reconducted for evaluation.

The hemodynamic analysis of flaps was performed before and after fenestration using the incorporated SPY-Q software. The patients' aesthetic and functional recovery were evaluated, as well as postoperative complications including vascular crisis, infection, and flap necrosis.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2018-06-01
• Primary Completion: 2021-06-01
• Study Completion: 2021-06-01
• Status Verified: 2022-04
• Study First Submitted: 2022-04-19
• Study First Submitted QC: 2022-04-29
• Last Update Submitted: 2022-04-29
• Study First Posted: 2022-05-04
• Last Update Posted: 2022-05-04

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 10

Inclusion Criteria

1. Preoperative facial soft tissue deformities/defects of type III and IV
2. Patients treated with monoblock pre-expanded prefabricated flaps for total face restoration.
3. Agreed and able to cooperate with the follow-ups, with signed informed consent form or audio recorded informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria

1. Patients with severe liver, kidney or lung insufficiency, and allergy to iodine products
2. Patients with mental illness, reduced cognitive capacity, unable to consent and unable to cooperate.
3. Minor patients without legal guardian.
4. Not willing to participate; informed consent form not signed.

Study & Design

• Study Type: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Design: Not specified

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
patients undergone total face reconstruction and intraoperative indocyanine green angiography	total face reconstruction surgery and intraoperative indocyanine green angiography	This clinical study enrolled 10 patients treated with total face reconstruction and intraoperative indocyanine green angiography from Jun 2018 to Jun 2021.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
The arterial infusion rate of flap after flap fenestration	10 minutes	The flap perfusion after flap fenestration was recorded by indocyanine green angiography (SPY imaging system, Novadaq Technologies Inc, Canada). The arterial infusion rate of flap perfusion after flap fenestration was calculated using the incorporated SPY-Q software.
The arterial infusion rate of flap before flap fenestration	10 minutes	The flap perfusion before flap fenestration was recorded by indocyanine green angiography (SPY imaging system, Novadaq Technologies Inc, Canada). The arterial infusion rate of flap perfusion before flap fenestration was calculated using the incorporated SPY-Q software.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
The occurrence rate of flap necrosis	2 weeks post-operation	The occurrence rate of flap necrosis was calculated at 2 weeks postoperatively. Flap necrosis was determined by three surgeons postoperatively. Necrosis includes epidermolysis, partial/superficial necrosis, and full-thickness necrosis. Partial/superficial necrosis is defined as loss of epidermis and partial loss of dermis with no subcutaneous tissue exposure/no requirement for debridement. Full-thickness necrosis is defined as loss of both epidermis and dermis.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital; 🇨🇳 Shanghai, Shanghai, China