The anterolateral fasciocutaneous thigh flap for circumferential pharyngeal defects--can it really replace the jejunum?

Free jejunal transfer has been used in pharyngeal reconstruction for many years, but many have criticised it as being unreliable, poorly tolerant of radiotherapy, and susceptible to stenosis and dysphagia. Recently, the trend has been to use the anterolateral thigh (ALT) flap to overcome these problems, and many authors have reported good results. At the University of Birmingham we used the jejunal free flap for pharyngeal reconstruction for many years, but in view of recent reports we changed to the ALT flap. We retrospectively analysed all patients who had pharyngeal reconstruction with an ALT flap in our unit since changing from the jejunal flap. Only circumferential defects were included. Six patients had pharyngeal resection and required reconstruction of a circumferential defect between 2007 and 2010. All the defects were reconstructed with a tubed ALT flap. No flaps failed and there was no partial necrosis. However, stricturing still occurred and the diet of many patients was restricted. Three patients required the flap to be replaced with a jejunal free flap. Although no flaps failed, we have not been able to replicate the results of other surgeons and have therefore abandoned use of the ALT flap and returned to use of the jejunal free flap for the reconstruction of circumferential pharyngeal defects.