Novel Musculocutaneous Flap for Salvage Esophageal Reconstruction

Annals of Thoracic Surgery Short Reports 2026 Open access

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Authors: Talia G. Meidan, Mohamad K. Abou Chaar, Frank M. Corl, Carlos Puig, Julina Ongkasuwan, Michael J. A. Klebuc, Andrew Tsao Huang, Nelson Eddie Liou, Shawn S. Groth, Shanda Haley Blackmon
DOI: 10.1016/j.atssr.2026.02.013
Cited by: 0
References: 7

Abstract

We present a novel surgical approach for salvage reconstruction of the esophagus in a heavily irradiated field. A tracheoesophageal fistula developed in our patient after laryngectomy and tracheoesophageal puncture for laryngeal cancer. After multiple repairs failed and life-threatening complications, we developed an innovative musculocutaneous flap with extended blood supply from the axillary vessels through a matured saphenous vein loop graft. We term this the "Bring Your Own Blood (BYOB) supply" flap. This case demonstrates the viability of this approach as a last-resort option for esophageal reconstruction in heavily irradiated tissue and highlights important anatomical considerations for patients with vascular anomalies.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Reconstructive Surgery and Microvascular Techniques Esophageal and GI Pathology Esophageal Cancer Research and Treatment

Publication details

Journal / source
Annals of Thoracic Surgery Short Reports
Volume
4
Issue
3
Pages
981–984
Publication date
27 February 2026
Language
EN