BACKGROUND: Microvascular free tissue transfer has become an accepted and versatile method of reconstruction in the head and neck region, offering a one-stage procedure and thus reducing the number and length of hospital stays. Many of the patients requiring head and neck free flaps are elderly, with concomitant medical problems, including respiratory and cardiovascular compromise, and are therefore potentially at higher risk of adverse outcomes. In addition, they frequently have a history of heavy alcohol and cigarette consumption, which can compound the risks. METHODS: We analyzed a series of 288 intraoral free flap reconstructions and arbitrarily divided them into four groups depending on age: <50, 51-60, 61-70, >70. These reconstructions were all performed for malignant lesions. Preoperative medical problems, including ischemic heart disease, hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, peripheral vascular disease, and diabetes, were assessed and compared among the different age groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that free flap surgery is a safe technique in elderly patients with comparable surgical complications to a younger patient population. As a result of concomitant medical problems, however, postoperative medical complications are more frequent in the older age groups, with a resultant increase in length of hospital stay. Copyright 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 25: 549-553, 2003
BACKGROUND: Microvascular free tissue transfer has become an accepted and versatile method of reconstruction in the head and neck region, offering a one-stage procedure and thus reducing the number and length of hospital stays. Many of the patients requiring head and neck free flaps are elderly, with concomitant medical problems, including respiratory and cardiovascular compromise, and are therefore potentially at higher risk of adverse outcomes. In addition, they frequently have a history of heavy alcohol and cigarette consumption, which can compound the risks. METHODS: We analyzed a series of 288 intraoral free flap reconstructions and arbitrarily divided them into four groups depending on age: <50, 51-60, 61-70, >70. These reconstructions were all performed for malignant lesions. Preoperative medical problems, including ischemic heart disease, hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, peripheral vascular disease, and diabetes, were assessed and compared among the different age groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that free flap surgery is a safe technique in elderly patients with comparable surgical complications to a younger patient population. As a result of concomitant medical problems, however, postoperative medical complications are more frequent in the older age groups, with a resultant increase in length of hospital stay. Copyright 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 25: 549-553, 2003
Authors: Marc P van der Schroeff; Wynia Derks; Gerrit Jan Hordijk; Rob J de Leeuw Journal: Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol Date: 2006-11-11 Impact factor: 2.503
Authors: Mitchell L Worley; Evan M Graboyes; Julie Blair; Suhael Momin; Kent E Armeson; Terry A Day; Andrew T Huang Journal: Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg Date: 2018-03-20 Impact factor: 3.497
Authors: Thomas T A Peters; Sophie F Post; Boukje A C van Dijk; Jan L N Roodenburg; Bernard F A M van der Laan; Paul M N Werker; Gyorgy B Halmos Journal: Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol Date: 2014-09-13 Impact factor: 2.503