Salvaging a submental flap.
Jeyashanth Riju, Natarajan Ramalingam, Jino Johns Lalitha et al.
✦ AI-curated · Sources linked
Case in brief
A 50-year-old man underwent surgery for carcinoma of the gingivobuccal sulcus, followed by reconstruction using a submental artery-based island flap (SMIF). Seventeen hours post-surgery, the flap exhibited venous congestion. Immediate re-exploration was performed, successfully salvaging the flap without any loss or complications at the donor or recipient sites during follow-up.
Diagnostic / clinical pearl
Clinicians should be vigilant for signs of venous congestion in submental flaps and consider immediate re-exploration to salvage the flap.
Why it matters
This case highlights the importance of close monitoring in the immediate postoperative period for SMIF, particularly in patients with altered venous drainage.