Examining the relationship of immunotherapy and wound complications following flap reconstruction in patients with head and neck cancer

American Head and Neck Society Reconstructive Microsurgery Committee

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

13 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Immunotherapy agents are used to treat advanced head and neck lesions. We aim to elucidate relationship between immunotherapy and surgical wound complications. Methods: Retrospective multi-institutional case series evaluating patients undergoing ablative and flap reconstructive surgery and immunotherapy treatment. Main outcome: wound complications. Results: Eight-two (62%) patients received preoperative therapy, 89 (67%) postoperative, and 33 (25%) in both settings. Forty-one (31%) patients had recipient site complications, 12 (9%) had donor site. Nineteen (14%) had major recipient site complications, 22 (17%) had minor. There was no statistically significant difference in complications based on patient or tumor-specific variables. Preoperative therapy alone demonstrated increased major complications (odds ratio [OR] 3.7, p = 0.04), and trend to more donor site complications (OR 7.4, p = 0.06), however treatment in both preoperative and postoperative therapy was not. Conclusions: Preoperative immunotherapy may be associated with increased wound complications. Controlled studies are necessary to delineate this association and potential risks of therapy.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1509-1520
Number of pages12
JournalHead and Neck
Volume43
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2021

Keywords

  • free flap reconstruction
  • head and neck cancer
  • immunotherapy
  • wound complications

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Otorhinolaryngology

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