[Risk factors for postoperative complications in major head and neck surgery]. / Factores de riesgo para las complicaciones postoperatorias en cirugía mayor de cabeza y cuello.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Tumor extension is the factor that usually determines the choice of radiotherapy or surgery for head and neck cancers. The choice of surgery carries with it certain specific risks that must be assessed jointly by the maxillofacial surgeon and the anesthetist so that they can agree on the best course of action to choose. We aimed to identify risk factors for complications after major head and neck surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective descriptive analysis of data for patients who underwent oncologic head and neck surgery with graft reconstruction. The main candidate predictors gathered from records were age, sex, ASA physical status classification, time under anesthesia, and intra- and postoperative events. The main dependent variables were records of early and delayed complications, time until extubation, and related mortality. RESULTS: We identified 61 interventions in 56 patients (mean duration of surgery, 9 hours). Early complications developed in 57.4% while they were in the critical care area. Age > or =60 years was associated with longer hospital stays. Short-term mortality was higher in current smokers (P= .01). Survival was significantly higher in patients classified ASA 1 or 2 in comparison with those classified as ASA 3 or 4, in whom long-term mortality was higher (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of postoperative complications was associated with comorbidity and risk behaviors found in this type of patient. We feel that a multidisciplinary medical team should assess the surgical and postoperative care of these patients.

Factores de riesgo para las complicaciones postoperatorias en cirugía mayor de cabeza y cuello / Risk factors for postoperative complications in major head and neck surgery

Objetivo: En los cánceres de cabeza y cuello la extensión del tumor es el parámetro que generalmente determina la elección de la radioterapia o la cirugía como alternativa terapéutica. Esta última opción conlleva unos riesgos específicos que deben ser evaluados conjuntamente por el cirujano maxilofacial y el anestesiólogo para optimizar dicha elección. El objetivo de esta trabajo fue identificar la existencia de factores de riesgo en las complicaciones postoperatorias en cirugía mayor de cabeza y cuello. Pacientes y métodos: Estudio observacional descriptivo retrospectivo en pacientes sometidos a cirugía oncológica maxilofacial más reconstrucción con injertos. Como variables principales predictoras se emplearon: edad, sexo, ASA, tiempo de anestesia e incidencias intra y postoperatorias y como variables principales dependientes: indicadores de complicaciones precoces, tardías y tiempo hasta extubación, así como la mortalidad asociada. Resultados: Sesenta y un intervenciones en 56 pacientes con un tiempo promedio de 9 horas de cirugía. Un 57,4% presentaron complicaciones precoces en la unidad de reanimación y 39% complicaciones tardías. Una edad >= 60 años se asoció a mayor duración de estancia hospitalaria. Los fumadores activos presentaron una mayor mortalidad a corto plazo (p = 0,01). Los pacientes con estado físico ASA I-II tuvieron una supervivencia significativamente mayor que los pacientes ASA III-IV, teniendo estos últimos una mayor mortalidad a largo plazo (p < 0,05). Conclusiones: La variabilidad en la incidencia de complicaciones postquirúrgicas asociadas a la comorbilidad y conductas de riesgo que presentan este tipo de pacientes, hace necesaria, a nuestro juicio, una evaluación por el equipo médico multidisciplinar involucrado en la cirugía y posteriores cuidados(AU)

Background and objective: Tumor extension is the factor that usually determines the choice of radiotherapy or surgery for head and neck cancers. The choice of surgery carries with it certain specific risks that must be assessed jointly by the maxillofacial surgeon and the anesthetist so that they can agree on the best course of action to choose. We aimed to identify risk factors for complications after major head and neck surgery. Patients and methods: Retrospective descriptive analysis of data for patients who underwent oncologic head and neck surgery with graft reconstruction. The main candidate predictors gathered from records were age, sex, ASA physical status classification, time under anesthesia, and intra- and postoperative events. The main dependent variables were records of early and delayed complications, time until extubation, and related mortality. Results: We identified 61 interventions in 56 patients (mean duration of surgery, 9 hours). Early complications developed in 57.4% while they were in the critical care area. Age >=60 years was associated with longer hospital stays. Short-term mortality was higher in current smokers (P = .01). Survival was significantly higher in patients classified ASA 1 or 2 in comparison with those classified as ASA 3 or 4, in whom long-term mortality was higher (P < .05). Conclusions: The incidence of postoperative complications was associated with comorbidity and risk behaviors found in this type of patient. We feel that a multidisciplinary medical team should assess the surgical and postoperative care of these patients(AU)