Reconstruction of the thoracic tracheal defects with portions of deepithelialized myocutaneous flaps after resection of a large tumor.

Objective: To study the possibility of using portions of deepithelialized myocutaneous flaps to the reconstruction of thoracic tracheal defects after resection of a large tumor.

Methods: From June 2007 to June 2012, five cases of defects of the thoracic trachea were reconstructed by applying portions of deepithelialized myocutaneous flaps. The patients were 27-61 years old with 4 male cases and 1 female. The cervical trachea ranged in diameter from 4-8.5 cm with circumferences of approximately 1/3-2/5 of the bronchial circumference.

Results: All five patients with thoracic tracheal defects after resection of a large tumor were cured of portions of deepithelialized myocutaneous flaps, with no tracheal stricture remaining and vomica successfully eliminated. During the first 1 to 3 months after the operation, bronchoscopy showed that the tracheal lumens were smooth, and the visible skin of the musculocutaneous flaps became gray and exhibited a small amount of white discharge.

Conclusions: Despite this being a small series and short follow-up, this thoracic tracheal reconstruction with portions of deepithelialized myocutaneous flaps shows encouraging preliminary results and could be an alternative to other methods for the treatment of carefully selected patients with thoracic tracheal defects.