Operative Nd:YAG laser plus postoperative hyperbaric oxygen reduces surgical morbidity after radical head and neck cancer surgery and complex reconstruction.

UNLABELLED

Complications after radical head and neck cancer surgery in irradiated patients are frequent and life-threatening. Hemorrhage, salivary fistulas, wound infections that expose the carotid sheath, among others, make these patients difficult management challenges in the ICU. We studied the effects of Nd:YAG laser surgery plus hyperbaric oxygen (HBO2) therapy on radical head and neck resections and complex reconstruction as a means of reducing postoperative morbidity and mortality.

METHODS

43 head and neck cancer patients were reviewed. Eight (STD) had standard surgery; 35 (YAG:HBO2) had Nd:YAG laser and postoperative HBO2.

RESULTS

Age, staging, primary tumor site, sex, reconstruction procedure and transfusion did not differ between STD and YAG/HBO2. All STD and Nd:YAG/HBO2 patients were irradiated, median dosages 5,000 centi-Gray (cGy) and 7,000 cGy, respectively (p = 0.073). Median blood loss was 1,000 ml STD and 700 ml YAG/HBO2 (p = 0.046). There were no postoperative deaths. Major surgical site complications developed in 63% of the STD and 17% of the YAG/HBO2 patients (p = 0.017). All STD and 62% of YAG/HBO2 cancers recurred within 28 months of surgery (p = 0.152). Within the STD and YAG/HBO2 groups, 100% and 77% of deaths, respectively, were due to cancer.

CONCLUSIONS

Combined Nd:YAG laser surgery and HBO2 reduces morbidity in radical head and neck cancer surgery. Recurrent disease and poor cancer survival remain common in this high-risk population.