The Role of Hyperbaric Oxygen in Head and Neck Reconstruction and Facial Cosmetic Surgery.

Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) is a treatment modality with the primary mechanism of therapy being the delivery of oxygen to hypoxic tissues. A review of HBO applications in the field of head and neck reconstruction and facial cosmetic surgery is provided. HBO can be useful in the management of radiation sequelae and treatment of compromised flaps and grafts. It may also have application in tissue compromise following cosmetic surgery and dermal fillers. We provide evidence from the available literature as well as highlight our experience in using HBO in head and neck reconstruction.

Risk Factors Associated With Postoperative Delirium in Patients Undergoing Head and Neck Free Flap Reconstruction.

IMPORTANCE: Postoperative delirium (POD) is associated with an increased rate of adverse events, higher health care costs, and longer hospital stays. At present, limited data are available regarding the risk factors for developing POD in patients undergoing head and neck free flap reconstruction. Identification of patients at high risk of developing POD will allow implementation of risk-mitigation strategies. OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency of and risk factors associated with POD in patients undergoing free flap reconstruction secondary to head and neck disease. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This retrospective cohort study included 515 patients undergoing free flap reconstruction from January 1, 2006, through December 31, 2012, at the James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Care Center, a tertiary care cancer hospital. Preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative data were collected retrospectively. Data from January 1, 2006, through December 31, 2012, were analyzed, and the final date of data analysis was January 8, 2018. INTERVENTIONS: Head and neck free flap reconstruction. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The primary outcome was the development of POD as defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Fourth Edition). Univariable and multivariable logistic regression were used to identify risk factors associated with POD. RESULTS: Five hundred fifteen patients underwent free flap reconstruction during the study period (66.2% male; mean [SD] age, 60.1 [12.8] years). Of these, 56 patients (10.9%) developed POD. On multivariable analysis, risk factors associated with POD included increased age (odds ratio [OR], 1.06; 95% CI, 1.02-1.11), male sex (OR, 5.02; 95% CI, 1.47-17.20), increased operative time (OR for each 1-minute increase, 1.004 [95% CI, 1.001-1.006]; OR for each 1-hour increase, 1.26 [95% CI, 1.08-1.46]), advanced nodal disease (OR, 3.00; 95% CI, 1.39-6.46), and tobacco use (OR, 7.23; 95% CI, 1.43-36.60). Preoperative abstinence from alcohol was identified as a protective factor (OR, 0.24; 95% CI, 0.12-0.51). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: This study identified variables associated with a higher risk of developing POD. Although many of these risk factors are nonmodifiable, they provide a target population for quality improvement initiatives. Furthermore, preoperative alcohol abstinence may be useful in preventing POD.

Suppression of Proinflammatory and Prosurvival Biomarkers in Oral Cancer Patients Consuming a Black Raspberry Phytochemical-Rich Troche.

Black raspberries (BRB) demonstrate potent inhibition of aerodigestive tract carcinogenesis in animal models. However, translational clinical trials evaluating the ability of BRB phytochemicals to impact molecular biomarkers in the oral mucosa remain limited. The present phase 0 study addresses a fundamental question for oral cancer food-based prevention: Do BRB phytochemicals successfully reach the targeted oral tissues and reduce proinflammatory and antiapoptotic gene expression profiles? Patients with biopsy-confirmed oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC) administered oral troches containing freeze-dried BRB powder from the time of enrollment to the date of curative intent surgery (13.9 ± 1.27 days). Transcriptional biomarkers were evaluated in patient-matched OSCCs and noninvolved high at-risk mucosa (HARM) for BRB-associated changes. Significant expression differences between baseline OSCC and HARM tissues were confirmed using a panel of genes commonly deregulated during oral carcinogenesis. Following BRB troche administration, the expression of prosurvival genes (AURKA, BIRC5, EGFR) and proinflammatory genes (NFKB1, PTGS2) were significantly reduced. There were no BRB-associated grade 3-4 toxicities or adverse events, and 79.2% (N = 30) of patients successfully completed the study with high levels of compliance (97.2%). The BRB phytochemicals cyanidin-3-rutinoside and cyanidin-3-xylosylrutinoside were detected in all OSCC tissues analyzed, demonstrating that bioactive components were successfully reaching targeted OSCC tissues. We confirmed that hallmark antiapoptotic and proinflammatory molecular biomarkers were overexpressed in OSCCs and that their gene expression was significantly reduced following BRB troche administration. As these molecular biomarkers are fundamental to oral carcinogenesis and are modifiable, they may represent emerging biomarkers of molecular efficacy for BRB-mediated oral cancer chemoprevention.

Management of complications and compromised free flaps following major head and neck surgery.

Microvascular free flaps are preferred for most major head and neck reconstruction surgeries because of better functional outcomes, improved esthetics, and generally higher success rates. Numerous studies have investigated measures to prevent flap loss, but few have evaluated the optimal treatment for free flap complications. This study aimed to determine the complication rate after free flap reconstructions and discusses our management strategies. Medical records of 260 consecutive patients who underwent free flap reconstructions for head and neck defects between July 2006 and June 2010 were retrospectively reviewed for patient and surgical characteristics and postoperative complications. The results revealed that microvascular free flaps were extremely reliable, with a 3.5 % incidence of flap failure. There were 78 surgical site complications. The most common complication was neck wound infection, followed by dehiscence, vascular congestion, abscess, flap necrosis, hematoma, osteoradionecrosis, and brisk bleeding. Twenty patients with poor wound healing received hyperbaric oxygen therapy, which was ineffective in three patients who eventually experienced complete flap loss. Eleven patients with vascular congestion underwent medicinal leech therapy, which was effective. Among the 78 patients with complications, 44 required repeat surgery, which was performed for postoperative brisk bleeding in three. Eventually, ten patients experienced partial flap loss and nine experienced complete flap loss, with the latter requiring subsequent pectoralis major flap reconstruction. Microvascular free flap reconstruction represents an essential and reliable technique for head and neck defects and allows surgeons to perform radical resection with satisfactory functional results and acceptable complication rates.

Transoral robotic surgery for oropharyngeal cancer: long-term quality of life and functional outcomes.

IMPORTANCE: Because treatment for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC), especially in patients of older age, is associated with decreased patient quality of life (QOL) after surgery, demonstration of a less QOL-impairing treatment technique would improve patient satisfaction substantially. OBJECTIVE: To determine swallowing, speech, and QOL outcomes following transoral robotic surgery (TORS) for OPSCC. DESIGN, PARTICIPANTS, AND SETTING: This prospective cohort study of 81 patients with previously untreated OPSCC was conducted at a tertiary care academic comprehensive cancer center. INTERVENTIONS: Primary surgical resection via TORS and neck dissection as indicated. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Patients were asked to complete the Head and Neck Cancer Inventory (HNCI) preoperatively and at 3 weeks as well as 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. Swallowing ability was assessed by independence from a gastrostomy tube (G-tube). Clinicopathologic and follow-up data were also collected. RESULTS: Mean follow-up time was 22.7 months. The HNCI response rates at 3 weeks and 3, 6, and 12 months were 79%, 60%, 63%, and 67% respectively. There were overall declines in speech, eating, aesthetic, social, and overall QOL domains in the early postoperative periods. However, at 1 year post TORS, scores for aesthetic, social, and overall QOL remained high. Radiation therapy was negatively correlated with multiple QOL domains (P < .05 for all comparisons), while age older than 55 years correlated with lower speech and aesthetic scores (P < .05 for both). Human papillomavirus status did not correlate with any QOL domain. G-tube rates at 6 and 12 months were 24% and 9%, respectively. Greater extent of TORS (>1 oropharyngeal site resected) and age older than 55 years predicted the need for a G-tube at any point after TORS (P < .05 for both). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Patients with OPSCC treated with TORS maintain a high QOL at 1 year after surgery. Adjuvant treatment and older age tend to decrease QOL. Patients meeting these criteria should be counseled appropriately.

Alcohol-related predictors of delirium after major head and neck cancer surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To identify specific alcohol-related predictors of postoperative delirium. DESIGN: Inception cohort, logistic regression with step-wise selection. SETTING: Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus. PATIENTS: A total of 774 patients undergoing major resection of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The correlation of 19 variables with postoperative delirium. One variable was an alcohol-related blood test: mean red blood cell volume (MCV). Eight variables were patient responses to alcohol-related questions. RESULTS: Eighty-nine of 774 surgical procedures (11.5%) were complicated by delirium. Six variables were significantly associated with delirium: age older than 69 years (odds ratio [OR], 2.43; P < .01), preexisting cognitive impairment (OR, 3.83; P < .01), surgery duration greater than 6 hours (OR, 2.40; P < .01), MCV greater than 95.0 femtoliters (OR, 2.23; P < .01), ever being advised to cut back on alcohol (OR, 2.25; P = .01), and not abstaining from alcohol for at least 1 continuous week in the preceding year (OR, 2.16; P = .02). The number of variables stratified delirium risk (0 variables: 198 patients, 2.5% incidence of delirium; 1 variable: 278 patients, 6% incidence of delirium; 2 variables: 206 patients, 18% incidence of delirium; and >2 variables: 92 patients, 34% incidence of delirium). CONCLUSIONS: Three clinical variables not related to alcohol drinking (age, preexisting cognitive impairment, and surgery duration), an alcohol-related laboratory test (MCV), and 2 alcohol-related questions ("At any time in your life, has anyone ever suggested that you should cut back on your drinking?" and "What is the greatest number of days in a row you have gone without an alcoholic drink in the past year?") may help in estimating a patient's risk for postoperative delirium.

The value of PET/CT to assess clinically negative necks.

The aim was to evaluate the efficacy of [(18)F]-2-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) in evaluating metastasis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) to the cervical lymph nodes, with specific attention to the efficacy in regard to clinically negative necks. This was a retrospective review of 243 patients with HNSCC between years 2005 and 2007 treated at a comprehensive cancer care institution who underwent pre-operative PET/CT and neck dissection with either an N0 (112 patients) or N+ (131 patients) clinical nodal status. PET/CT findings were correlated with histopathological results of surgical specimens. A majority of the primary sites were oral cavity and oropharynx (70%), followed by larynx, unknown primary and hypopharynx. In the group of 112 patients who underwent 144 neck dissections with N0 nodal status, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive (NPV) and accuracy were 57, 82, 59, 80 and 74%, respectively. In the group of 131 patients who underwent 169 neck dissections with N+ nodal status, sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV and accuracy were 93, 70, 96, 58 and 91%, respectively. PET/CT has a much reduced rate of efficacy for the clinically negative neck compared to the clinically positive neck. PET/CT in its current stage does not appear to offer an advantage in staging the clinically N0 neck due to high rates of false positives and negatives.

Quality-of-life outcomes in transoral robotic surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To report long-term, health-related quality-of-life (HRQOL) outcomes in patients treated with transoral robotic surgery (TORS). STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, longitudinal, clinical study on functional and HRQOL outcomes in TORS. SETTING: University tertiary care facility. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Patients who underwent TORS were asked to complete a Head and Neck Cancer Inventory before treatment and at 3 weeks and 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. Demographic, clinicopathological, and follow-up data were collected. RESULTS: Sixty-four patients who underwent TORS were enrolled. A total of 113 TORS procedures were performed. The mean follow-up time was 16.3 ± 7.49 months. The HRQOL was assessed at 3 weeks and at 3, 6, and 12 months, with a response rate of 78%, 44%, 41%, and 28%, respectively. TORS was performed most frequently for squamous cell carcinoma (88%). There was a decrease from baseline in the speech, eating, aesthetic, social, and overall QOL domains immediately after treatment. At the 1-year follow-up, the HRQOL scores in the aesthetic, social, and overall QOL domains were in the high domain. Patients with malignant lesions had significantly lower postoperative HRQOL scores in the speech, eating, social, and overall QOL domains (P < .05). Patients who underwent adjuvant radiation therapy or chemotherapy and radiation therapy had lower postoperative scores in the eating, social, and overall QOL domains (P < .05). CONCLUSION: The preliminary data show that patients who undergo TORS for malignancies and receive adjuvant therapy tend to have lower HRQOL outcomes. TORS is a promising, minimally invasive, endoscopic alternative surgical treatment of laryngopharyngeal tumors.

When to manage level V in head and neck carcinoma?

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: As superselective neck dissection strategy is gaining popularity to minimize postoperative morbidity and better life quality, we investigated the metastatic nodal status of level V neck lymph node group for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma in various primary sites. We have also aimed to display the impact of involvement of other nodal groups on level V. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective review of histopathologic examination of case series at a comprehensive cancer center. METHODS: The study group was composed of 107 patients who underwent a type of neck dissection including level V among 243 patients. The impact of primary site and metastatic nodal status of other levels on metastasis to level V involvement were evaluated. RESULTS: The most common primary tumor site was oropharynx (n = 43), followed by oral cavity (n = 32), larynx (n = 16), carcinoma of unknown primary (n = 10), and hypopharynx (n = 6). General pathologic N positivity for all levels was 78.3% (76 of 97) when 10 carcinoma of unknown primary patients were excluded. Level V was involved in 13 of 107 (12.1%) patients. Level V was not involved in any patient when the other levels were not involved (0 of 21). Even when considering only N+ patients, the ratio of N positivity for level V is still <20% (13 of 86, 15.1%). CONCLUSIONS: Because level V was not involved in any patient when the other levels were not involved, it might be reasonable to preserve level V especially in clinically and intraoperatively N0 patients.

Maxillary removal and reinsertion: a favorable approach for extensive anterior cranial base tumors.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the long-term results and the complications related to an expanded series of maxillary removal and reinsertion (MRRI) with 18-year surgical experience. STUDY DESIGN: Case series with chart review of the MRRI patients in the last 18 years. SETTING: The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Seventy-eight patients who underwent MRRI from February 1990 through February 2007. The median age was 51 years (range 11-77 yrs). Sixty-two (80%) patients had malignant lesions. RESULTS: MRRI has been successfully completed in all 78 patients, with no intraoperative mortality. The most commonly encountered malignant neoplasm was squamous cell cancer (40.3%), followed by esthesioneuroblastoma (24.1%), adenoid cystic cancer (8%), and other neoplasms (27.4%). The most commonly encountered postoperative complication was diplopia, which has persisted in five (6.4%) patients in the short-term and in three (4%) patients in the long-term follow-up. Nasal asymmetry was the most common long-term complication (17.9%), followed by plate-associated problems (10.2%) and midface asymmetry (10.2%). Overall five-year survival for the patients with squamous cell carcinoma was 62 percent. CONCLUSION: MRRI is a favorable surgical technique for the treatment of anterior cranial base (ACB) tumors in adults and even in children. It improves operative morbidity by preserving both function and form of the maxillary region and gives excellent exposure to ACB.

When to address level I lymph nodes in neck dissections?

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the involvement of level I neck lymph node groups in head and neck carcinoma and compare the effect of primary tumor sites, such as oral cavity (OC), oropharynx (OP), hypopharynx (HP), and larynx (Lx), on level I lymph node metastasis. STUDY DESIGN: Case series with chart review. SETTING: Comprehensive Cancer Center. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A total of 243 patients with OC and laryngopharyngeal carcinoma who underwent neck dissections in the last three years were included in the study. The primary tumor site was OC, followed by OP, Lx, HP, and carcinoma of unknown primary (CUP). RESULTS: Level I was involved in 29 of 243 (11.9%) patients. The other levels were also positive in all but five (17.2%) level I-involved patients. The primary tumor site with level I lymph node metastasis was OC (19.1%), followed by CUP (11.1%), OP (9.8%), Lx (4.4%), and HP (0%). The Lx primary site involved level I only if there were multiple other adverse prognostic features, such as N3 neck, extracapsular spread, pathologic involvement of all resected lymph nodes, involvement of all levels I-V, and invasion of the submandibular gland. CONCLUSION: Although the submandibular content is resected as part of radical and modified radical neck dissections, level I-sparing selective neck dissections could be a safe and effective surgical neck management strategy in appropriately selected patients with OP, Lx, and HP carcinoma.

The impact of surgery in the management of the head and neck carcinoma involving the carotid artery.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: To demonstrate the feasibility of the carotid artery dissection and/or resection and reanastomosis, and to show its positive impact on survival and disease control rates for the head and neck carcinomas involving the carotid artery. STUDY DESIGN: Tertiary center (Comprehensive Cancer Center). Case series review. METHODS: The data of 90 patients with head and neck malignancies involving the carotid artery were operated for the carotid artery dissection and/or resection, and reanastomosis in the last 10 years were retrospectively reviewed and analyzed. RESULTS: Eighty (89%) of the 90 patients' head and neck malignancies were squamous cell carcinoma. Fifty-two (65%) and 28 (35%) of 80 patients were recurrent and stage IV disease, respectively. There was no stage I to III disease. Carotid artery was dissected and preserved in 64 (71.1%) of the 90 patients. Eighteen (20%) of 90 patients needed carotid artery dissection with resection and reanastomosis. Eight (8.9%) patients were unresectable. Sixty (75%) of 80 patients needed reconstruction with regional or free flaps and grafts. Overall 2- and 5-year estimated survivals were 32.4% and 27.8% for all; 14.3% and 10.7% for recurrent; 64.3% and 57.8% for stage IV previously untreated; and 22.0% and 22.0% for carotid artery resected-reanastomosed patients, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The carotid artery dissection without resection is an achievable goal in majority of patients with the advanced stage head and neck carcinoma involving the carotid artery. Resection and reanastomosis of carotid artery, especially in the previously untreated carotid involved patients, is a feasible surgery and achieves better survival and disease control rates when compared with the unresected or recurrent disease patients.

Multimodal intensification regimens for advanced, resectable, previously untreated squamous cell cancer of the oral cavity, oropharynx, or hypopharynx: a 12-year experience.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the feasibility of, compliance with, and long-term survival with intensification treatment regimens for patients with advanced, resectable, previously untreated head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. DESIGN: Prospective phase 2 clinical trial (3 similar, consecutively evolved trials). SETTING: Comprehensive Cancer Center-Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute, The Ohio State University. PATIENTS: One hundred twenty-three patients (median age, 60 years; range, 30-78 years) with previously untreated, resectable, advanced squamous cell carcinomas of the oral cavity, oropharynx, or hypopharynx. INTERVENTIONS: Perioperative cisplatin chemoradiotherapy, surgical resection with intraoperative radiotherapy, and postoperative paclitaxel and cisplatin chemoradiotherapy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The feasibility, compliance, and long-term survival associated with the 3 intensification regimens. RESULTS: Compliance with all 3 intensification regimens averaged 61% (75/123). Patient-directed noncompliance occurred in 16 patients (13%). The average locoregional (112/123, 91%) and systemic (106/123, 86%) disease control rates were excellent. Overall long-term disease-specific survival was 73%. Median time at risk was 62.5 months (range, 1 day to 100.4 months). CONCLUSIONS: The intensification regimens result in excellent disease control rates and long-term survival in this particular patient population. Future evolution of these regimens will include some modifications to further decrease toxic effects followed by phase 2 multi-institutional trials to determine whether the single-institutional experience can be duplicated. The results of these studies will determine whether phase 3 trials can be proposed.

Long-term results of a multimodal intensification regimen for previously untreated advanced resectable squamous cell cancer of the oral cavity, oropharynx, or hypopharynx.

BACKGROUND: Long-term disease control of an intensified treatment regimen for previously untreated stage III and IV resectable oral cavity, oropharyngeal, or hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma was analyzed. METHODS: Forty-three patients with previously untreated, advanced stage, resectable squamous carcinomas of the oral cavity, oropharynx, or hypopharynx were enrolled in a prospective phase II institutional clinical trial at a tertiary care National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center. It includes preoperative accelerated hyperfractionated radiotherapy with concurrent cisplatin followed immediately by surgery and intraoperative radiotherapy, and completed with early postoperative weekly paclitaxel, two additional cisplatin cycles, and concurrent once-daily radiotherapy beginning on day 28 after surgery. RESULTS: Forty-three patients enrolled in the study. Protocol compliance was 53%. The range of time at risk was 10.4 to 56.23 months (median, 45 months). The locoregional (93%) and systemic (91%) disease control rates were excellent. Overall long-term survival was 79%. CONCLUSIONS: An intensive treatment regimen that improves compliance and long-term disease control is clearly feasible for this patient population.