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Free tissue transfer for head and neck reconstruction in solid organ transplant patients
Author(s) -
Miller Matthew W.,
Dean Nichole R.,
Cannady Steven B.,
Rosenthal Eben L.,
Wax Mark K.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
head and neck
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.012
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1097-0347
pISSN - 1043-3074
DOI - 10.1002/hed.21893
Subject(s) - medicine , head and neck , immunosuppression , surgery , solid organ , perioperative , organ transplantation , free flap , head and neck cancer , transplantation , radiation therapy
Background Patients with head and neck malignancies who have had solid organ transplant and require free tissue transfer are a unique population. This study was performed to evaluate the effect of immunosuppression on the rate of perioperative complications and the success of free tissue transfer in the head and neck. Methods Complications in solid organ transplant patients undergoing free tissue transfer for reconstruction of head and neck malignancies from 1998 to 2010 were evaluated. Results A total of 22 flaps in 17 patients were performed. Eight patients (11 of 22 flaps) had complications. The median hospital stay was 6 days (range, 4–26 days). The median length of follow‐up was 13.5 months (range, 3.5–49.9 months). Conclusions Solid organ transplant patients are at an increased risk of de novo malignancies due to chronic immunosuppression. This study demonstrates that free tissue transfer is a viable option in transplant patients with morbidity similar to nontransplant patients. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2011