[Postoperative complications in patients with functional neck dissection].

The aim of this study was to assess the complications of surgical treatment of patients with laryngeal cancer undergoing functional neck dissection (FND). Local and medical complications, post-operative sequelae, post-operative stay and fatality rate were recorded in 195 patients. Overall complication rate was 43.07%, with 45 wound infections; 35 wound dehiscences; 39 serohematomas; 4 chylous fistulae; and 11 hemorrhages (2 cases of internal jugular vein rupture). Medical complications were seen in 11 patients. The significant association of pharyngocutaneous fistula with wound infection and dehiscence raises a reasonable doubt about the relative participation of FND in the reported complication rate. Overall incidence of surgical fatality as a result of complications was 2.56% (5/195). Permanent sequelae were found in 4.24% of FNDs (11/259). The average hospitalization was 25.17 +/- 19.88 days. Although an accurate evaluation of intrinsic complications of FND is difficult to perform in patients with combined single-state surgery for the tumor and the neck, most complications of FND are local and easy to manage.