The use of color Doppler ultrasound in the assessment of vessels for facial transplantation.

The facial artery has been proposed as the main vascular pedicle in facial transplantation. An anatomic study of 200 consecutive facial and transverse facial vessels in 100 normal individuals was performed using color Doppler ultrasound. The diameter and course of each facial vessel were measured at 3 fixed landmarks, and the branching pattern was documented up to the level of the nasal ala.