Complications of head and neck surgery in the elderly.

Many recent studies have documented that complications of head and neck surgery are no more common in the elderly than in younger patients. But few studies have addressed complication rates in a population undergoing reconstruction with microvascular free tissue transfer (MFTT). We compared outcomes of patients older and younger than 70 who underwent MFTT and found no significant difference in the incidence of surgical complications. However, older patients did experience more medical morbidity and more surgical mortality. Nonetheless, we conclude that MFTT should not be withheld from patients 70 years and older solely on the basis of their advanced age.