Monitoring Free Tissue Transfer Hemodynamics Using NIRS

Free tissue transfer (FTT) is a surgical procedure for repairing cancer resection wounds. Free tissue transfer usually involves taking skin from one area of the body (e.g. leg) and transplanting it to the surgically created wound (e.g. neck wound). Due to problems with anastomosis, the transplanted skin can die. If the poor blood supply can be detected early, transplanted skin can be saved by taking patients back to the operating room. The investigators propose to improve the design and test a novel, non-invasive monitoring system specifically for head and neck surgeries for early detection of poor blood supply to the transplanted tissue after FTT surgery.