Larissa Sweeny1, Michael Topf2, Mark K Wax3, Eben L Rosenthal4, Benjamin J Greene5, Ryan Heffelfinger2, Howard Krein2, Adam Luginbuhl2, Daniel Petrisor3, Scott H Troob3, Brian Hughley5, Steve Hong4, Tingting Zhan6, Joseph Curry2. 1. Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Louisiana State University Health Science Center-New Orleans, New Orleans, Louisiana. 2. Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 3. Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon. 4. Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Stanford University, Stanford, California. 5. Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, U.S.A. 6. Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Analyze the cause and significance of a shift in the timing of free flap failures in head and neck reconstruction. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective multi-institutional review of prospectively collected databases at tertiary care centers. METHODS: Included consecutive patients undergoing free flap reconstructions of head and neck defects between 2007 and 2017. Selected variables: demographics, defect location, donor site, free flap failure cause, social and radiation therapy history. RESULTS: Overall free flap failure rate was 4.6% (n = 133). Distribution of donor tissue by flap failure: radial forearm (32%, n = 43), osteocutaneous radial forearm (6%, n = 8), anterior lateral thigh (23%, n = 31), fibula (23%, n = 30), rectus abdominis (4%, n = 5), latissimus (11%, n = 14), scapula (1.5%, n = 2). Forty percent of flap failures occurred in the initial 72 hours following reconstruction (n = 53). The mean postoperative day for flap failure attributed to venous congestion was 4.7 days (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.6-6.7) versus 6.8 days (CI 5.3-8.3) for arterial insufficiency and 16.6 days (CI 11.7-21.5) for infection (P < .001). The majority of flap failures were attributed to compromise of the arterial or venous system (84%, n = 112). Factors found to affect the timing of free flap failure included surgical indication (P = .032), defect location (P = .006), cause of the flap failure (P < .001), and use of an osteocutaneous flap (P = .002). CONCLUSION: This study is the largest to date on late free flap failures with findings suggesting a paradigm shift in the timing of flap failures. Surgical indication, defect site, cause of flap failure, and use of osteocutaneous free flap were found to impact timing of free flap failures. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4 Laryngoscope, 2019.
OBJECTIVE: Analyze the cause and significance of a shift in the timing of free flap failures in head and neck reconstruction. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective multi-institutional review of prospectively collected databases at tertiary care centers. METHODS: Included consecutive patients undergoing free flap reconstructions of head and neck defects between 2007 and 2017. Selected variables: demographics, defect location, donor site, free flap failure cause, social and radiation therapy history. RESULTS: Overall free flap failure rate was 4.6% (n = 133). Distribution of donor tissue by flap failure: radial forearm (32%, n = 43), osteocutaneous radial forearm (6%, n = 8), anterior lateral thigh (23%, n = 31), fibula (23%, n = 30), rectus abdominis (4%, n = 5), latissimus (11%, n = 14), scapula (1.5%, n = 2). Forty percent of flap failures occurred in the initial 72 hours following reconstruction (n = 53). The mean postoperative day for flap failure attributed to venous congestion was 4.7 days (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.6-6.7) versus 6.8 days (CI 5.3-8.3) for arterial insufficiency and 16.6 days (CI 11.7-21.5) for infection (P < .001). The majority of flap failures were attributed to compromise of the arterial or venous system (84%, n = 112). Factors found to affect the timing of free flap failure included surgical indication (P = .032), defect location (P = .006), cause of the flap failure (P < .001), and use of an osteocutaneous flap (P = .002). CONCLUSION: This study is the largest to date on late free flap failures with findings suggesting a paradigm shift in the timing of flap failures. Surgical indication, defect site, cause of flap failure, and use of osteocutaneous free flap were found to impact timing of free flap failures. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4 Laryngoscope, 2019.
Authors: Amit Walia; Jake J Lee; Ryan S Jackson; Angela C Hardi; Craig A Bollig; Evan M Graboyes; Joseph Zenga; Sidharth V Puram; Patrik Pipkorn Journal: Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg Date: 2021-09-07 Impact factor: 5.591
Authors: Paolo Iacoviello; Susanna Bacigaluppi; Simone Callegari; Carlo Rossello; Andrea Antonini; Marco Gramegna; Mariano Da Rold; Giuseppe Signorini; Giuseppe Verrina Journal: Front Surg Date: 2022-06-30
Authors: Andreas M Fichter; Thomas Mücke; Lucas M Ritschl; Marie-Kristin Hofmann; Constantin T Wolff; Leonard H Schmidt; Klaus-Dietrich Wolff Journal: Sci Rep Date: 2021-04-22 Impact factor: 4.379