[Jejunum transplantation. Therapeutic progress?].

Either the musculocutaneous island flap (especially the pectoralis major flap) or the free jejunal transplant are used for large mucosal defects of the oro- and hypopharynx. As a jejunal transplant is more time consuming than the use of a musculocutaneous flap, its use must be justified. A review of the literature and our own experience show that the jejunal transplant should be preferred because (1) it is more versatile, (2) it can easily be handled, (3) it provides better functional results, (4) it avoids the functional and aesthetic morbidity of the donor site defect and (5) it has a lower complication rate than the pectoralis major flap.