Color doppler ultrasonography is a reliable predictor of free tissue transfer outcomes in head and neck reconstruction.

Objective: The purpose of our investigation was to report our experience with a color flow doppler (CFD) ultrasonography for postoperative monitoring of free tissue transfers.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of head and neck free tissue transfers at a single institution between 2000 and 2005 (n = 84; 80 successful, 4 failures). CFD measured blood flow velocity (cm/sec) and resistance to flow in the pedicle vein and artery on postoperative days 1, 3, and 7.