Use of the Occipital Artery as a Recipient Artery in Free Flap Reconstruction of the Occipital Region

In free flap reconstruction of the occipital region, the occipital artery can be a recipient vessel for vascular anastomosis, but few detailed reports or studies on its role as a recipient vessel are available. The authors report the case of a 74-year-old man in whom the occipital artery was used as the recipient vessel in occipital free tissue reconstruction. By using the occipital artery as the recipient vessel, tumor resection, latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap harvesting, vascular anastomosis, and wound closure could all be completed with the patient in the prone position and without change of position. The authors consider the occipital artery to be a reliable recipient vessel that has a certain diameter and can secure a long vascular pedicle. Avoiding change of position with the brain exposed not only reduces the risk of infection but also shortens the overall surgical time.