Botulinum toxin therapy for prevention of anastamotic thrombosis in free tissue transfer

摘要

An effective, long lasting, non-systemic drug administration protocol for preventing vascular vasospasm and vessel thrombosis in free tissue transplantation. In a free flap procedure, after the recipient vein and artery (vascular pedicle) are divided, the recipient artery and vein are pretreated with a local injection of botulinum toxin. The vein and artery from the flap (vascular pedicle) are anastomosed (connected) to the vein and artery identified using microsurgery. The free flap is sutured to the prepared area, and the donor site is sutured closed. Then, a relatively long term, non-systemic local administration neurotoxin administration protocol is effected in conjunction with a periodic monitoring program to ensure the blood vessels remain patent (i.e. the vessels have good blood flow). The botulinum post-treatment alone or in combination with the botulinum pretreatment can proactively prevent vascular vasospasm and vessel thrombosis after the free tissue transplantation.