Influence of using a single facial vein as outflow in full-face transplantation: A three-dimensional computed tomographic study

Andres Rodriguez-Lorenzo; Thorir Audolfsson; Corrine Wong; Angela Cheng; Gary Arbique; Daniel Nowinski; Shai Rozen

doi:10.1016/j.bjps.2015.05.031

Influence of using a single facial vein as outflow in full-face transplantation: A three-dimensional computed tomographic study

J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg. 2015 Oct;68(10):1358-63. doi: 10.1016/j.bjps.2015.05.031. Epub 2015 Jun 5.

Authors

Andres Rodriguez-Lorenzo¹, Thorir Audolfsson², Corrine Wong³, Angela Cheng³, Gary Arbique⁴, Daniel Nowinski², Shai Rozen³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Surgical Sciences, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden; Department of Plastic and Maxillofacial Surgery, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden. Electronic address: a.rodriguez.ps@gmail.com.
² Department of Surgical Sciences, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden; Department of Plastic and Maxillofacial Surgery, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden.
³ Department of Plastic Surgery, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
⁴ Department of Radiology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.

PMID: 26130506
DOI: 10.1016/j.bjps.2015.05.031

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the contribution of a single unilateral facial vein in the venous outflow of total-face allograft using three-dimensional computed tomographic imaging techniques to further elucidate the mechanisms of venous complications following total-face transplant.

Methods: Full-face soft-tissue flaps were harvested from fresh adult human cadavers. A single facial vein was identified and injected distally to the submandibular gland with a radiopaque contrast (barium sulfate/gelatin mixture) in every specimen. Following vascular injections, three-dimensional computed tomographic venographies of the faces were performed. Images were viewed using TeraRecon Software (Teracon, Inc., San Mateo, CA, USA) allowing analysis of the venous anatomy and perfusion in different facial subunits by observing radiopaque filling venous patterns.

Results: Three-dimensional computed tomographic venographies demonstrated a venous network with different degrees of perfusion in subunits of the face in relation to the facial vein injection side: 100% of ipsilateral and contralateral forehead units, 100% of ipsilateral and 75% of contralateral periorbital units, 100% of ipsilateral and 25% of contralateral cheek units, 100% of ipsilateral and 75% of contralateral nose units, 100% of ipsilateral and 75% of contralateral upper lip units, 100% of ipsilateral and 25% of contralateral lower lip units, and 50% of ipsilateral and 25% of contralateral chin units.

Conclusion: Venographies of the full-face grafts revealed better perfusion in the ipsilateral hemifaces from the facial vein in comparison with the contralateral hemifaces. Reduced perfusion was observed mostly in the contralateral cheek unit and contralateral lower face including the lower lip and chin units.

Keywords: Allotransplantation; Face transplantation; Vascular complications; Vascular tissue; Venous ouflow.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Aged
Cadaver
Face / blood supply*
Face / diagnostic imaging
Facial Transplantation / methods*
Female
Humans
Imaging, Three-Dimensional
Jugular Veins / diagnostic imaging*
Male
Phlebography / methods*
Surgical Flaps / blood supply*
Tomography, X-Ray Computed / methods*
Transplantation, Homologous