Recruiting

Facial Vein Reconstruction

Sponsor:

University of Pittsburgh

Code:

NCT07694726

Conditions

Head and Neck Cancer

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Interventions

Facial Vein Reconstruction

Study Details

Brief summary:

\* The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if facial vein reconstruction after neck dissection works to reduce rates of lymphedema in adults getting surgical treatment for head and neck cancer.

This is a trial which aims to improve the rate of lymphedema for patients undergoing treatment for head and neck cancer. Our aim is to re-establish venous flow across the facial vein to improve lymphatic drainage after neck dissection.

  • The investigators will also evaluate lymphatic flow before and after facial vein reconstruction to determine if there is evidence of lymphedema.
  • The main questions this study aims to answer are:

1. Does facial vein reconstruction after neck dissection improved lymphatic flow in head and neck cancer patients?
2. Determine if there are changes in lymphatic flow before and after facial vein reconstruction?

After the study is completed, the investigators will compare rates of lymphedema and quality of life in patients with facial vein preservation/reconstruction as compared to previous patients treated for head and neck cancer without facial vein reconstruction.

Participants will undergo the following:

1. Oncologic and reconstructive surgery as normal. No changes in cancer treatment will occur due to the study.
2. When necessary, participants will undergo facial vein reconstruction immediately after neck dissection
3. Visit the clinic once every 3 months for routine checkups and tests. This is typical for most patients treated for head and neck cancer including those not enrolled in the trial.
4. Fill out short questionnaires to help understand quality of life after head and neck cancer treatment
5. Undergo lymphography in the OR and at the 1-year mark in the office. This is a simple test performed without radiation exposure. It requires 3 very small skin injections to perform the test.

Conditions

Head and Neck Cancer

Study ID

NCT07694726

Start date

Oct 3, 2026

Status verified date

Aug, 2026

Completion date

Dec, 2028

Anticipated

Primary completion date

Jul, 2028

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 0 or 1
  • Ability to comply with the study protocol, including follow up visits and additional requirements for data collection
  • Ability to provide informed consent
  • Patients requiring unilateral or bilateral neck dissection. Patients must undergo at least three level neck dissection which must include level 1B
  • Patients will undergo radiotherapy +/-chemotherapy after surgery for HNC. Patients will be required to have adjuvant therapy after surgery to have similar risk of development of lymphedema.
  • No history of allergy to indocyanine green.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Shellfish Allergy
  • Contraindication to surgery under general anesthesia
  • Prior head and neck surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy for HNC
  • Patients requiring sacrifice of the internal jugular vein or resection of neck skin for oncologic care
  • Anticipated partial or total laryngectomy
  • Pregnancy or lactation

Study Design

Enrollment

37 participants

Anticipated

Intervention Model

Single group

Primary purpose

Treatment

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

experimental: Facial Vein Reconstruction Group

When necessary, participants will get facial vein reconstruction immediately after neck dissection. Participants will also undergo lymphography before and after vein reconstruction. If the facial vein is intact, no intervention is needed, but the patient may still participate in the study.

Interventions

Facial Vein Reconstruction

Immediately after neck dissection, the facial vein will be assessed. If the vein has been ligated for the neck dissection, then the vein will be repaired. This may require vein graft and the use of a venous coupler. If the vein is intact after neck dissection, we can proceed without surgical intervention.

Primary outcome measure

  • Lymphedema Staging [ Time Frame: before surgery and every three months after surgery up to 1 year ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Central contacts

Locations

UPMC Presbyterian Hospital and UPMC Shadyside Hospital

Recruiting

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States, 15213

Contacts

Shaum S Sridharan, M.D.

412-647-2130sridharans2@upmc.edu

More Information

Sponsor

University of Pittsburgh

Last update posted

Oct 6, 2026

Last verified

Aug, 2026

Keywords

  • head and neck cancer
  • head and neck lymphedema
  • lymphedema

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-10-07. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by University of Pittsburgh on 2026-10-06. Recruitment status is synced daily from ClinicalTrials.gov and may not reflect the sponsor's current status. Confirm during your call.