V-Y advancement flaps for extensive perianal defect repair

Objectives: Some perianal pathologies require aggressive surgery that will need techniques to allow to re-establish the integrity of the perianal region. The purpose is to analyze short and long term results after perineal reconstruction with V-Y flaps. Methods: A retrospective review of prospectively collected database was conducted at Virgen de la Arrixaca's Hospital in Murcia (Espana) between January 2000 and December 2013. The study includes all patients who underwent a perineal reconstruction with V-Y flaps. Demographic and surgical data and short-/long-term morbidity was recorded. Results: 10 patients were included, 6 males and 4 females. The average age was 58,1 +/- 17,4 years. Surgical indication included both malignant and benign pathologies. Operating time was 143,5 +/- 41,3 min. R0 resection was performed in all cases although histopathological analysis showed involvement of the deeper margin in 3 cases. Length of hospital stay was 7,8 +/- 7,6 days. Regarding complications: 6 patients had partial dehiscence of the flap. None of the patients lost the flap completely. The most frequent late complication was anal stenosis (n=4). Follow up showed total continence in 7 patients. Two patients had variable fecal andor flatus incontinence. A colostomy was made in one case due to severe incontinence. Conclusions: V-Y flaps are an effective and feasible technique to cover large perianal defects after aggressive surgeries. However, this technique is not free of postoperative morbidity. (C) 2016 AEC. Published by Elsevier Espana, S.L.U. All rights reserved.