Free flap reconstruction in 21 pediatric patients with head and neck cancer: clinical considerations for comprehensive care

doi:10.19438/j.cjoms.2019.06.013

Abstract

Abstract: PURPOSE: To analyze the clinical characteristics for free flap reconstruction of defects caused by head and neck cancer among patients aged 14 and below. METHODS: A retrospective study was performed in patients who were treated in the Department of Oromaxillofacial Head and Neck Oncology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital from 2009 to 2011, all patients were aged 14 years and below and had reconstructions with free flap for head and neck cancer. Clinical, pathological records and image data were collected and analyzed. SPSS 17.0 software package was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Twenty-one patients were finally selected, 14 were male and 7 were female; 17 patients had ASA score grade Ⅰ and 4 patients had ASA score grade Ⅱ. The median operating time was 480 minutes, and median blood loss was 500 mL. Six patients had tracheotomy, 7 had medical complications (4 pulmonary infection, 3 diarrhea), 4 had surgical complications (1 hematoma beneath flap, 2 wound dihescence, 1 salivary fistula). Tracheotomy was related to medical complications(P=0.035) and overall complications (P=0.064). CONCLUSIONS: Free flap reconstruction could be applied in pediatric HNC patients. Postoperative complications were main negative factor for prognosis. Tracheotomy had relationship with postoperative complications and should be cautiously used.

Key words: Pediatric patients, Head and neck cancer, Free flap reconstruction

CLC Number:

R739.8

GUO Yun, HE You-ya, CHEN Yi-ming, TANG Yan-yi, JI Tong. Free flap reconstruction in 21 pediatric patients with head and neck cancer: clinical considerations for comprehensive care[J]. China Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, 2019, 17(6): 545-549.

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