The Plastic Surgery and Otorhinolaryngology teams of Hospital de Dénia They have carried out a complex reconstruction surgery of hemilanguage that has returned the patient the ability to swallow and vocalize.
The patient had been subjected to radiotherapy due to a malignant tumor on the tongue, where he had lost part of it, as well as its functionality. The complex surgery has been developed during 12 hours and has been directed by doctors José Mallent, Plastic Surgeon and José Manuel Colio, Head of Otolaryngology of the Department of Health of Dénia.
The intervention consisted of removing and later reconstructing the right half of the tongue, affected by a spinocellular tumor, implanting a flap composed of several tissues (skin, fatty tissue, fascia and muscle) from the anterolateral side of the thigh (called ALT) of the own patient.
During the surgery, the teams had to dissect and reconnect arteries and veins with the objective, not only to reconstruct the affected area, but also to restore functionality to it. This type of flap is especially indicated for the reconstruction of soft tissues of small and medium size in the head and neck, leaving hardly any sequelae in the donor area.
These complex interventions should be carried out in reference hospitals, with good pot-operative coverage, because they can have many complications. We do not know how patients can consent to surgery in these hospitals in which those who operate them are not on duty.