Micro-lightguide spectrophotometry as an intraoral monitoring method in free vascular soft tissue flaps.

Abstract Purpose: The aim of this prospective study was to measure the hemoglobin oxygen saturation (HbO2%) and relative Hb concentration of free vascular soft tissue flaps using micro-lightguide spectrophotometry. The objective was to measure the normal range and topographic differences in HbO2% and rel. Hb conc. in tissue transfers before establishing this as a clinical method for monitoring perfusion and vitality. Patients and Methods: In 39 patients who had received free vascular soft tissue flaps (34 radial forearm flaps; 8 latissimus flaps) to cover defects after tumor surgery, the capillary HbO2% in transferred tissue was measured spectrophotometrically preoperatively at the donor si…