Impact of Body Mass Index on Operative Outcomes in Head and Neck Free Flap Surgery

2018 ◽  
Vol 159 (5) ◽  
pp. 817-823 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meghan M. Crippen ◽  
Jacob S. Brady ◽  
Alexander M. Mozeika ◽  
Jean Anderson Eloy ◽  
Soly Baredes ◽  
...  

Objective Analyze the risk for perioperative complications associated with body mass index (BMI) class in patients undergoing head and neck free flap reconstruction. Study Design and Setting Retrospective cohort study. Subjects and Methods The National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database was queried for all cases of head and neck free flaps between 2005 and 2014 (N = 2187). This population was stratified into underweight, normal-weight, overweight, and obese BMI cohorts. Groups were compared for demographics, comorbidities, and procedure-related variables. Rates of postoperative complications were compared between groups using χ2 and binary logistic regression analyses. Results Underweight patients (n = 160) had significantly higher rates of numerous comorbidities, including disseminated cancer, preoperative chemotherapy, and anemia, while obese patients (n = 447) had higher rates of diabetes and hypertension. Rates of overall surgical complications, medical complications, and flap loss were insignificantly different between BMI groups. Following regression, obese BMI was protective for perioperative transfusion requirement (odds ratio [OR] = 0.63, P = .001), while underweight status conferred increased risk (OR = 2.43, P < .001). Recent weight loss was found to be an independent predictor of perioperative cardiac arrest (OR = 3.16, P = .006) while underweight BMI was not (OR = 1.21, P = .763). However, both weight loss and underweight status were associated with significantly increased risk for 30-day mortality (OR = 4.48, P = .032; OR = 4.02, P = .010, respectively). Conclusion Obesity does not increase the risk for postoperative complications in head and neck free flap surgery and may be protective in some cases. When assessing a patient’s fitness for surgery, underweight status or recent weight loss may suggest a reduced ability to tolerate extensive free flap reconstruction.

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 58-66
Author(s):  
Isobel Yeap ◽  
Chris Ahn ◽  
Stuart Hoffman ◽  
Rowan Gillies ◽  
John Vandervord

Background: Factor V Leiden is the most common form of inherited thrombophilic syndrome, affecting five per cent of caucasians. While increased rates of venous thromboembolic complications have been regularly reported in factor V Leiden patients, little is known about their risk of microvascular complications or flap failure rates in free-flap surgery. The aim of this review is to qualitatively review the published literature on outcomes of free-flap surgery in patients with factor V Leiden. Methods: MEDLINE®, PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane were searched from their dates of inception to March 2017. Nine studies of level IV evidence were included in this qualitative review. In total, these studies included 22 patients who underwent 24 free-flap operations. Results: Nine flap failures were reported due to thrombotic complications. Even heterozygous factor V Leiden patients had a relatively high risk of free-flap failure (3/15 free flaps), and patients who were heterozygous for factor V Leiden and had other coexistent thrombophilias had an even higher failure rate (5/6 free flaps). However, the small sample size across the nine studies, as well as the inevitable publication bias, means that definitive conclusions cannot be drawn. Conclusion: Despite factor V Leiden being a relatively common condition in Australia, current evidence for outcomes of free-flap reconstruction in this patient population is lacking.


2021 ◽  
pp. 019459982110119
Author(s):  
Meghan M. Crippen ◽  
Rohan S. Ganti ◽  
Vivian Xu ◽  
Brian Swendseid ◽  
Diana L. Tzeng ◽  
...  

Objective To investigate if a history of venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a risk factor for complications in head and neck free flap surgery by assessing outcomes among patients with a history of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and/or pulmonary embolism (PE). Study Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting Single tertiary care center. Methods All patients undergoing head and neck free flap reconstruction at our institution between September 1, 2006, and April 2, 2020, were assessed for inclusion. Patients with and without a history of DVT or PE preoperatively were identified and grouped for comparison. Groups were compared for demographics, comorbidities, and 30-day complications. Significance was assessed with chi-square and binary logistic regression analyses. Results Of the 1061 patients meeting inclusion criteria, 40 (3.8%) had a history of VTE. These patients were significantly older (mean [SD], years: 67.8 [11.7] vs 63.0 [14.1], P = .038) and significantly more likely to have history of chemotherapy (35.0% vs 18.7%, P = .010) and stroke (27.5% vs 4.5%, P < .001). After accounting for patient characteristics via binary logistic regression, VTE was independently associated with an increased risk for postoperative thrombosis of the free flap pedicle (odds ratio [95% CI] = 3.65 [1.12-11.90], P = .032) and reoperation (2.45 [1.25-4.80], P = .009). Patients with history of PE had a significantly increased risk for flap failure (7.70 [1.77-33.52], P = .007). Prior VTE was not independently associated with an increased risk for medical complications or readmission. Conclusion Patients with a history of VTE may be at an increased risk for free flap compromise secondary to postoperative pedicle thrombosis. This risk should be considered in preoperative workup and postoperative monitoring.


2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (05) ◽  
pp. 369-378
Author(s):  
Alexander J. Jones ◽  
Mohamedkazim M. Alwani ◽  
Leah J. Novinger ◽  
Eric Pittelkow ◽  
Andrea Bonetto ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Sarcopenia has been implicated as a positive predictor of postsurgical complications. Its role in head and neck (H&N) free flap reconstruction has yet to be examined. Our study aimed to determine the clinical impact of sarcopenia on postoperative outcomes in patients receiving autologous free tissue reconstruction for H&N cancer (HNC). Methods A retrospective case–control study was conducted at our tertiary referral center. Patients with HNC who received oncologic resection followed by autologous free tissue reconstruction were included. Preoperative abdominal computed tomography (CT) imaging was analyzed at the third lumbar vertebra (L3) to calculate skeletal muscle cross-sectional area (CSA, cm2). Skeletal muscle index (SMI, cm2/m2) was calculated by normalizing CSA to patient height. Sarcopenia at L3 was defined as SMI ≤ 41.6 cm2/m2 for males and ≤ 32.0 cm2/m2 for females. Data analyses were performed to compare postoperative outcomes. Results Of the 168 patients who met inclusion criteria, 47 patients (28.0%) were determined to have preoperative sarcopenia. The sarcopenic group was older (63 vs. 58 years, p = 0.017), had lower body mass index (BMI; 21.2 vs. 27.2, p < 0.001), had greater incidence of alcohol abuse (55.3 vs. 23.1%, OR = 4.11, p < 0.001). Intraoperatively, sarcopenic patients were found to have greater rates of blood transfusions (63.8 vs. 29.8%, p < 0.001). Postoperatively, sarcopenic patients had higher rates of pneumonia (p < 0.01), venous thromboembolism (p < 0.01), prolonged ventilation (p < 0.01), delirium (p < 0.01), fistula (p < 0.05), wound disruption (p < 0.05), and longer intensive care unit stays (p < 0.05). Sarcopenic patients were ultimately found to have higher overall rates of general postoperative complications (p < 0.001) and flap-specific complications (p < 0.01). Conclusion Sarcopenia was found to be a predictor of postoperative complications in H&N free flap reconstruction, signifying its value as a negative prognostic factor in surgical outcomes. This study reflects level of evidence IV.


2018 ◽  
Vol 275 (10) ◽  
pp. 2575-2584 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sanna Lahtinen ◽  
Petri Koivunen ◽  
Tero Ala-Kokko ◽  
Päivi Laurila ◽  
Outi Kaarela ◽  
...  

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