Postoperative infections associated with microvascular free flaps in head and neck reconstruction: Analysis of risk factors and results with a standardized prophylaxis protocol.

Currently, large defects of the head and neck regions are mainly reconstructed using microvascular free flap. Postoperative infections, including surgical site infections (SSIs) and medical postoperative infections (MPI), are important causes of morbidity and worsening of surgical outcomes. The authors aimed to analyze the results obtained using a standardized prophylaxis protocol in a series of 100 consecutive patients who underwent microvascular reconstruction surgery between 2016 and 2021 at a single institution, to identify the risk factors, which could be overcome, to minimize the incidence of infectious complications. In this study, 24 patients developed infectious complications. Higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score was statistically associated with higher risk of infectious complications (p = 0.01), need for postoperative transfusions (p = 0.01), and higher T and N stage (p = 0.03 and p = 0.02, respectively) in patients with cancer. We also found a correlation between the increase in surgery duration, hospitalization, and intensive care unit (ICU) stay with higher risk of infection (p = 0.03, p = 0.01, and p = 0.001, respectively). Nine patients reported partial or total flap necrosis and in this group of patients, a higher incidence of infectious complication was recorded (p = 0.001). Our experience shows that SSIs and MPIs affect the global and surgical outcomes of patients and both their incidences can be reduced by correcting potential risk factors preoperatively (e.g., anemia), intraoperatively (amount of blood loss and duration of surgery), and postoperatively (duration of hospitalization and ICU stay and early elimination of potential sources of infection).