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Microsurgical reconstruction of the head and neck
Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery (2010) 63, 885
BOOK REVIEW Microsurgical reconstruction of the head and neck. Peter Neligan and Fu-Chan Wei, Quality Medical Publishing, Inc. St. Louis, MO, 2009; 899, 2 DVDs with operative video, over 1000 illustrations (4-colour), $325, Microsurgeons, Reconstructive Surgeons, Plastic Surgeons, Otolaryngologists, Maxillofacial Surgeons, Craniofacial Surgeons, Residents in all these specialities.
Review This book on head and neck reconstruction contains 44 chapters in seven sections covering the full spectrum of problems encountered in head and neck surgery and their solutions. It also includes 2 DVD’s containing 5 operative procedures. The book is edited by two of the world’s leading microsurgeons in this field and all chapters are written by experts from all over the world, who share their expertise and insights on the latest advances and techniques in head and neck surgery and reconstruction. Part I provides an overview of contemporary management of head and neck tumours. For surgeons only performing the reconstruction and not tumour ablation, it gives in a superb format insight into tumour related topics, the state of art of radiation therapy, chemotherapy as well as on important aspects of the assessment of reconstructive outcomes. Part II discusses important details on flap physiology, the influence of drugs on the rheology of flaps and issues which are important from an anaesthesiological standpoint and which should be understood before embarking on the reconstruction itself. The chapter on choosing recipient vessels is one of the pearls of this book. Part III, the section which makes this book even more worthwhile, contains chapters on favourite free flaps of the editors. Unfortunately the editors do not account for their choice of flaps, other than in the title calling them ‘common free flaps for head and neck reconstruction’. In an era where donor morbidity is acknowledged and many people in the western world are overweight, flaps such as
doi:10.1016/j.bjps.2010.01.031
the lateral upper arm flap might have been given some attention here. This Part puts great emphasis on the versatility of various donor sites and possibility of taking various types of tissue on one vascular pedicle as chimera-flap as well as on reducing donor site morbidity. In addition it contains chapters on the latest developments in reconstructive surgery, such as the art of designing and elevation free style perforator flaps and on supramicrosurgery. Two DVD’s are added which contain a total of 5 flap dissections done by the editors to illustrate this part. The quality of the image on DVD one is sometimes modest, whereas that of DVD two is superb. Part IV is the real core section of this book. It contains chapters that beautifully display reconstructive options by region. The information provided is up-to-date, sound and illustrated nicely with cases. In this part many flaps (free and pedicled ones) that were not covered in Part III are introduced, thereby complementing it, but from a different perspective. Boxes containing key points and algorithms make matters, which are complex easy to understand. Part V contains chapters on osseointegration and facial prosthetics, while Part VI deals with cosmetic considerations and ways to secondarily refine results as well as with complications. In Part VII, called ‘the Future’, chapters on flap pre-fabrication and compositae tissue allotransplantation can be found. All chapters include an extensive list of references while key references contain a small summary. The book is very well illustrated with over a 1000 full colour drawings and colour photographs. This book deserves a place on the bookshelf of every surgeon involved in reconstructive surgery of the head and neck.
Paul M.N. Werker Professor and Chief Department of Plastic Surgery, University Medical Centre Groningen, p.o Box 30.001, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands E-mail address: [email protected]
BOOK REVIEW Microsurgical reconstruction of the head and neck. Peter Neligan and Fu-Chan Wei, Quality Medical Publishing, Inc. St. Louis, MO, 2009; 899, 2 DVDs with operative video, over 1000 illustrations (4-colour), $325, Microsurgeons, Reconstructive Surgeons, Plastic Surgeons, Otolaryngologists, Maxillofacial Surgeons, Craniofacial Surgeons, Residents in all these specialities.
Review This book on head and neck reconstruction contains 44 chapters in seven sections covering the full spectrum of problems encountered in head and neck surgery and their solutions. It also includes 2 DVD’s containing 5 operative procedures. The book is edited by two of the world’s leading microsurgeons in this field and all chapters are written by experts from all over the world, who share their expertise and insights on the latest advances and techniques in head and neck surgery and reconstruction. Part I provides an overview of contemporary management of head and neck tumours. For surgeons only performing the reconstruction and not tumour ablation, it gives in a superb format insight into tumour related topics, the state of art of radiation therapy, chemotherapy as well as on important aspects of the assessment of reconstructive outcomes. Part II discusses important details on flap physiology, the influence of drugs on the rheology of flaps and issues which are important from an anaesthesiological standpoint and which should be understood before embarking on the reconstruction itself. The chapter on choosing recipient vessels is one of the pearls of this book. Part III, the section which makes this book even more worthwhile, contains chapters on favourite free flaps of the editors. Unfortunately the editors do not account for their choice of flaps, other than in the title calling them ‘common free flaps for head and neck reconstruction’. In an era where donor morbidity is acknowledged and many people in the western world are overweight, flaps such as
doi:10.1016/j.bjps.2010.01.031
the lateral upper arm flap might have been given some attention here. This Part puts great emphasis on the versatility of various donor sites and possibility of taking various types of tissue on one vascular pedicle as chimera-flap as well as on reducing donor site morbidity. In addition it contains chapters on the latest developments in reconstructive surgery, such as the art of designing and elevation free style perforator flaps and on supramicrosurgery. Two DVD’s are added which contain a total of 5 flap dissections done by the editors to illustrate this part. The quality of the image on DVD one is sometimes modest, whereas that of DVD two is superb. Part IV is the real core section of this book. It contains chapters that beautifully display reconstructive options by region. The information provided is up-to-date, sound and illustrated nicely with cases. In this part many flaps (free and pedicled ones) that were not covered in Part III are introduced, thereby complementing it, but from a different perspective. Boxes containing key points and algorithms make matters, which are complex easy to understand. Part V contains chapters on osseointegration and facial prosthetics, while Part VI deals with cosmetic considerations and ways to secondarily refine results as well as with complications. In Part VII, called ‘the Future’, chapters on flap pre-fabrication and compositae tissue allotransplantation can be found. All chapters include an extensive list of references while key references contain a small summary. The book is very well illustrated with over a 1000 full colour drawings and colour photographs. This book deserves a place on the bookshelf of every surgeon involved in reconstructive surgery of the head and neck.
Paul M.N. Werker Professor and Chief Department of Plastic Surgery, University Medical Centre Groningen, p.o Box 30.001, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands E-mail address: [email protected]