The internal mammary artery perforator flap in pharyngoesophageal, cervical tracheal, and cutaneous neck reconstruction

Daniel Sharbel; Chen Lin; Michael C Topf; Kyle Mannion

doi:10.1002/hed.27769

The internal mammary artery perforator flap in pharyngoesophageal, cervical tracheal, and cutaneous neck reconstruction

Head Neck. 2024 May 6. doi: 10.1002/hed.27769. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Daniel Sharbel¹, Chen Lin², Michael C Topf³, Kyle Mannion³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia, USA.
² Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Illinois-Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
³ Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.

PMID: 38711230
DOI: 10.1002/hed.27769

Abstract

The internal mammary artery perforator (IMAP) flap is an evolution of the deltopectoral flap that is harvested based upon a single perforator from the internal mammary artery. Its favorable characteristics include pliability as a fasciocutaneous flap, ease of harvest, and minimal donor site morbidity. In this paper, we report our harvest technique and the versatility of the IMAP flap for pharyngoesophageal, cervical tracheal, and cutaneous neck defects. We seek to highlight the IMAP as a useful regional reconstructive option in both the primary and salvage reconstructive setting. As such, this flap is an important option in the head and neck reconstructive surgeon's armamentarium.

Keywords: head and neck cancer; internal mammary artery; perforator flap; pharyngeal reconstruction; tracheal reconstruction.