Premium
Outcomes of free flap reconstruction in the elderly
Author(s) -
Vaz Jason A.,
Côté David W. J.,
Harris Jeffrey R.,
Seikaly Hadi
Publication year - 2013
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.23057
Subject(s) - medicine , surgery , head and neck , free flap , retrospective cohort study , anastomosis , cohort , reconstructive surgery , general surgery
Abstract Background The reconstructive surgeon is often faced with the dilemma of offering free flap reconstruction to the elderly after surgical extirpation in the head and neck due to the perception that this population tolerates these procedures poorly. Methods A 42‐month retrospective review of all microvascular free flap reconstruction cases from a large head and neck oncology program was reviewed. A series of 278 patients met inclusion criteria and were stratified into 2 age groups: 45 to 64.9 years ( n = 177) and ≥65 years ( n = 101). Results There was no significant difference in primary outcomes, anastomotic compromise ( p = .36), unsalvageable flaps ( p = .46), secondary outcomes, complicated recoveries ( p = .29), or deaths within 30 days of surgery ( p = .14) between the 2 groups. However, the length of postoperative recovery was increased in the elderly cohort ( p = .029). Conclusions Given that outcomes were similar between young and elderly patients, surgeons should not restrict the use of free flaps based on their patients' age. Head Neck, 2012