Safety of intra-operative vasopressor in free jejunal flap reconstruction.

BACKGROUND: Microvascular surgeons always hold strong belief against the use of vasopressors during free flap surgery. Our aim is to study the safety of intra-operative vasopressors on free jejunal flap reconstruction.
METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed on patients undergoing free jejunal flap reconstruction, aiming at investigating the intra-operative use of vasopressors and the potential complications associated.
RESULTS: Between 1984 and 2012, 110 free jejunal flaps were performed for reconstruction of circumferential pharyngeal defects created after resection of cancers of the hypopharynx. Intra-operative vasopressor was given in 81 (73.6%) patients. The most common vasopressors used were ephedrine (42.7%), phenylephrine (14.5%) or both (42.8%). They were administered to the patients before the start of flap harvesting (n = 32, 29.1%), during the flap harvesting (n = 30, 27.3%), during microvascular anastomosis (n = 20, 18.2%), or they were given more than once during the whole operation (n = 28, 25.4%). The incidence of intra-operative re-anastomosis due to thrombosis was 4.5% and the post-operative flap failure rate was 5.4%. There was no significant relationship between the administration of vasopressor during surgery and the need for intra-operative re-anastomosis, post-operative flap failure and the timing of flap failure. Similarly, there was also no relationship between the timing of vasopressor administration and the above variables. The long-term stricture rate was 2.7%, the risk of which was not increased by the intra-operative use of vasopressors.
CONCLUSION: The intra-operative use of vasopressors is safe in free jejunal flap reconstruction.