Perioperative Deep Vein Thrombosis Risk Stratification: A Comparative Analysis of Free and Pedicled Flap Patients. (January 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sinha, Sumi; Puram, Sidharth V.; Sethi, Rosh K. V.; Goyal, Neerav; Emerick, Kevin S.; Lin, Derrick; Durand, Marlene L.; Deschler, Daniel G.
• Is Part Of: Otolaryngology--head and neck surgery. Volume 156:Number 1(2017)
• Page Start: 118
• Page End: 121
• Publication Date: 2017-01
• Subjects: deep vein thrombosis -- free flap -- pedicled flap -- head and neck -- microvascular reconstruction; Head -- Surgery -- Periodicals; Neck -- Surgery -- Periodicals; Otolaryngology -- Periodicals; 617.51
• DOI: 10.1177/0194599816667399
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0194-5998

Abstract

Patients with head and neck cancer who undergo reconstructive surgery are at risk for deep venous thrombosis (DVT), but the risk profile for patients undergoing major flap reconstruction is highly variable. Herein, we report our findings from a retrospective analysis of head and neck cancer patients (n = 517) who underwent free (n = 384) or pedicled (n = 133) flap reconstructive operations at a major tertiary care center from 2011 to 2014. DVTs developed perioperatively in 9 (1.7%) patients. Compared with pedicled flap patients, free flap patients had a longer mean operative time (421.4 ± 4.4 vs 332.7 ± 10.7 min, P < .0001), but the DVT incidence did not differ significantly between free and pedicled flap patients (1.6% vs 2.2%, respectively, P = .28). These data suggest that perioperative DVT risk in head and neck oncology patients may be largely similar regardless of the reconstructive strategy pursued.