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Effect of advanced age and medical disease on the outcome of microvascular reconstruction for head and neck defects
Author(s) -
Shestak Kenneth C.,
Jones Neil Ford,
Wu Wayne,
Johnson Jonas T.,
Myers Eugene N.
Publication year - 1992
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.2880140104
Subject(s) - medicine , head and neck , disease , outcome (game theory) , head and neck cancer , surgery , radiation therapy , mathematics , mathematical economics
During the 5‐year period from July 1984 to 1988, 72 patients over the age of 50 underwent microvascular free tissue transfers for head and neck reconstruction. There were 22 patients aged 50‐59 years, 31 patients aged 60‐69 years, and 19 patients aged 70‐79 years. Seventy of these procedures (97%) were done at the time of ablative surgery utilizing a two‐team approach. There was 1 total flap loss for a flap viability rate of 99% (73/74). There were 46 complications in 40 patients: 21 surgical and 25 medical. Twelve of the surgical complications required reoperation for a major surgical complication rate of 16%. Major medical complications developed in 12 patients (16%). Medical complications more commonly were observed in patients aged 60‐69 years who had significant preoperative comorbidity and were classified as ASA class 3 or greater. There were 5 postoperative deaths for a mortality rate of 7%. Advanced chronologic age does not compromise the technical success of microsurgical free tissue transfer in the elderly patient with head and neck cancer. The risk of medical complications is significant and is directly related to concurrent illness of the individual patient rather than to age alone.