1. Postoperative inpatient surgical complications following head and neck microvascular free tissue transfer.
- Author
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Abdulbaki, Hasan, Ha, Patrick K., Knott, Philip D., Park, Andrea M., Seth, Rahul, Heaton, Chase M., and Wai, Katherine C.
- Subjects
SURGICAL complications ,HEAD & neck cancer ,SURGICAL site ,FIBULA ,NECK ,FREE flaps - Abstract
Background: Complications following head and neck microvascular free tissue transfer (MFTT) are common. Less is known about when they occur. Method: Retrospective study of patients with primary or recurrent head and neck cancer undergoing MFTT reconstruction at a tertiary care institution. MFTT reconstructions with inpatient postoperative complications were included. The Kruskal–Wallis test was used to compare median postoperative day (POD) onset of complication by flap type. Results: Of 1090 patients undergoing MFTT reconstruction, 126 (11.6%) patients experienced inpatient complications including fibula (n = 35), anterolateral thigh (n = 60), or radial forearm (n = 31) MFTTs. POD onset was shortest for surgical site hematoma (median = 1 [IQR 1–5]), and longest for donor site infection (median = 11.5 [IQR 8–15]). There was no significant difference between flap types and POD onset of complications (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Hematoma formation and flap failure occur earliest during hospitalization, while dehiscence, infection, and fistula occur later. There is no difference in complication timing between flap types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
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