Introduction: The pedicled pectoralis major flaps are still harvested and mainly indicated for reconstruction in the polymorbid patient. Other indications are combinations of pedicled pectoralis major flaps with free microvascular flap, salvage reconstruction following complications, free flap failure and recurrent or extended primary disease.
Materials and methods: We describe the pedicled pectoralis major flap in 18 patients operated on at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Olomouc from 1st January 2014 to 1st December 2016.
Results: Fifteen oropharyngeal defect reconstructions were performed using pedicled pectoralis major flap (including 1 submandibular defect of the neck). Indications were primary resection in polymorbid patients in 10 cases and recurrent diseases after previous neck dissection and radiotherapy in 5 cases. Pedicled pectoralis major flap was used for secondary reconstruction in 3 cases. Complications occurred in 50 % of patients, 28 % were major and 22 % minor. Major complications included a total flap failure (defect was successfully treated with free tissue transfer of latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap) in 1 case, plate exposure in 2 cases, large dehiscence and large hemorrhage 1 case each. Minor complications included only small dehiscences (22 %). One was associated with fluidothorax after rib harvesting (6%). There were no cases of neck contracture or supraclavicular bulge.
Conclusion: Even today, usage the pedicled pectoralis major flap in head and neck reconstruction surgery cannot be considered as an obsolete reconstructive procedure that has been completely replaced by a free microvascular flap. Innovations of flap harvesting techniques and high rate of flap survival are the main reasons why pedicled pectoralis major flap can still be primarily indicated for high-risk patients, non-cooperative patients and also for patients with extensive neck dissection. The pedicled pectoralis major flap has been the first choice in salvage surgery, in cases of a complication or free flap failure or a recurrence of a primary disease.
Keywords: Oral cancer, pedicled pectoralis major flap, pectoralis muscle flap, head and neck reconstruction.