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HEAD AND NECK FREE FLAP RECONSTRUCTION IN THE ELDERLY POPULATION – WAIKATO EXPERIENCE
Author(s) -
Neary F. A.,
Moaveni Z.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
anz journal of surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.426
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1445-2197
pISSN - 1445-1433
DOI - 10.1111/j.1445-2197.2009.04927_34.x
Subject(s) - medicine , head and neck , incidence (geometry) , free flap reconstruction , malignancy , presentation (obstetrics) , surgery , population , free flap , disease , general surgery , physics , environmental health , optics
The main indication for free flap reconstruction in the head and neck is malignancy. As the world's population ages, we will be presented with more elderly patients with head and neck cancers requiring free flap reconstruction. However, the older population does have a significantly higher incidence of multisystem disease which can cause some concern when considering a potentially long and complex surgical procedure. Do these co‐morbidities translate into actual risk regarding flap success and post‐operative mortality? This presentation reviews our ten year experience with microvascular reconstruction in the elderly at Waikato Hospital, New Zealand. A synopsis of key considerations in improving success rates in this type of surgery will also be offered.