Procedure

Following excision, the defect is analysed, and a template made out.
A similarly shaped block of tissue which can be spared without a significant loss [which may be skin, muscle bone or others] is marked out elsewhere on the patient and removed along with the arteries and veins [and sometimes nerve].
This is used to replace the part removed and is carefully set into place.
The newly inset tissue is brought to life by connecting the small blood vessels to the patient’s blood vessels, usually in the neck.
This usually requires a microscope [as the vessels and the sutures are very tiny] and thus the name.
The donor site is closed either directly or with skin grafts.

Microvascular Flaps in Head and Neck Cancer