Enhanced recovery after microvascular reconstruction in head and neck cancer - A prospective study.

Objectives: Patients undergoing microvascular reconstruction after head and neck cancer typically have several comorbidities, and the procedures are often followed by complications and prolonged hospitalization. Consequently, the application of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) for these patients undergoing microvascular reconstruction has gained attention in recent years. ERAS is a peri- and postoperative care concept that has repeatedly shown beneficial results for a wide variety of surgical procedures, including microvascular reconstruction. This study presents the results after the introduction of our ERAS protocol for head and neck cancer reconstruction. Methods: We prospectively treated 30 consecutive patients according to our ERAS protocol from June 2019 to December 2020 and compared the results of the treated patients with those of patients treated with our traditional recovery after surgery (TRAS) protocol. We are based on our ERAS protocol on the following core elements of recovery: improved patient information, goal-directed fluid therapy, minimally invasive surgery, opioid-sparing multimodal analgesia, early ambulation, and pre-defined functional discharge criteria. Results: The baseline characteristics of the groups were comparable. The ERAS group had a significantly shorter length of stay (13.1 vs. 20.3 days, p < 0.001), significantly shorter time to ambulation (3.0 days vs. 6.4 days, p < 0.001), shorter time to removal of nasogastric tube (13.3 days vs. 22.7 days, p = 0.05), and fewer tracheostomies performed (10% vs. 90%, p < 0.001). There were no differences in complications, flap survival, or 30-day re-admissions between the two groups. Conclusion: The introduction of ERAS in patients with head and neck cancer undergoing microvascular reconstruction seems safe and results in improved recovery. Level of evidence: 3.

Mandibular resection in patients with head and neck cancer: acute and long-term complications after reconstruction.

BACKGROUND: The treatment of head and neck cancer is an intensive multimodal treatment that has a great impact on the individual patient. AIMS/OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate acute and long-term complications associated with mandibular resections and reconstructions. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We retrospectively retrieved data on complications and recurrences among patients that underwent mandibular resections and reconstructions for treating oral cavity cancer (n = 190 patients) and osteoradionecrosis (ORN, n = 72). Reconstructions included composite grafts (n = 177), soft tissue flaps (n = 61), or primary closure without any graft (n = 24). RESULTS: Forty-two patients that underwent reconstructions with composite grafts displayed serious complications (Clavien-Dindo ≥ IIIa). The complication rates were similar between patients treated for oral cavity cancer and patients treated for ORN. Patients that underwent a primary closure without any graft, had a significantly lower risk of complications compared to patients that underwent the other treatments. After hospitalization, 181 patients (69%) had at least one complication. CONCLUSIONS: A majority of patients undergoing resection and reconstruction due to oral cancer/ORN suffered from postoperative complications regardless of indication, comorbidity status or reconstruction technique. The risk of Clavien-Dindo grade IIIa-V events was significantly lower for patients treated with primary closure without grafts. SIGNIFICANCE: The results from this study clarifies the importance of in-depth analyse prior to decision of treatment for patients with head and neck cancer.

Microvascular reconstruction in head and neck cancer - basis for the development of an enhanced recovery protocol.

INTRODUCTION: Microvascular reconstructions after head and neck cancer are among the most complicated procedures in plastic surgery. Postoperative complications are common, which often leads to prolonged hospital stay. Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) is a peri- and postoperative care concept with the aim of achieving pain- and risk-free surgery. It has been previously established as superior to conventional care for a wide variety of procedures, including microsurgical procedures such as reconstructions of the breast. Several ERAS protocols for microvascular head and neck cancer reconstructions have been proposed, although most of these are based on extrapolated evidence from different surgical specialties. Results from the implementation of ERAS for these procedures are inconsistent. METHODS: The current study investigates our clinical experience of head and neck cancer reconstruction for the period of 2014-2016 with the aim of establishing a list of functional discharge criteria. By combining these with the current published knowledge on the subject, we developed an ERAS protocol. RESULTS: We performed 89 microvascular procedures in the study period, of which 58 were in the oral cavity/sinuses and 31 were laryngopharyngeal. Most cases were squamous cell carcinoma (89%). The average LOS was 20.3 days in both groups. Postoperative complications included infection (37%), 30-days re-operations (19%), and re-admissions (17%). Furthermore, we identified the following discharge criteria: adequate pain relief, ambulation, sufficient nutritional intake, normal infection-related blood parameter results and absence of fever, bowel function, and closure of tracheostomy. CONCLUSION: Based on our retrospective analysis and identified discharge criteria, we present an approach to develop an ERAS protocol for microvascular reconstruction after head and neck cancer.

Molecular Activity and Osseointegration After Single-Dose Irradiation: An In Vivo Study.

PURPOSE: Irradiation results in deleterious effects on bone healing and integration of titanium implants. The impact of irradiation on osseointegration has been demonstrated in histologic studies, but the underlying molecular mechanisms have not been explored. This study aimed to investigate the effects of single-dose irradiation on the expression of biologic mediators crucial for inflammation, bone formation, and bone remodeling and to relate these molecular activities to implant stability after a 5-week healing period. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A rat tibia model was used. An external single-dose irradiation of 20 Gy was administered to one leg while the second leg was used as a control. After 8 weeks, the irradiated and non-irradiated tibiae received titanium implants. Five weeks following implantation, implant stability was evaluated by removal torque measurement. Then, the implant and the bone surrounding the implant were retrieved for gene expression analysis of the implant-adherent cells and peri-implant bone, respectively. RESULTS: Irradiation resulted in 55% reduction in removal torque. The implant-adherent cells in irradiated sites revealed downregulation of genes related to bone formation (ALP and OC) and upregulation of proinflammatory (TNF-α) and pro-fibrogenic (PDGF-b) genes. Conversely, the peri-implant bone in irradiated sites revealed upregulation of bone formation and bone remodeling genes. Removal torque showed a negative correlation with pro-inflammatory activity and a positive correlation with osteoblastic activity in the implant-adherent cells. CONCLUSION: The impact of high (20 Gy) single-dose irradiation on osseointegration involves a reduction in bone formation activity and upregulation of pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrogenic activities in the implant-adherent cells. It is also suggested that this single-dose irradiation elicits a different molecular pattern at a distance from the implant surface, characterized by increased bone formation and remodeling activities in the peri-implant bone.

Osseointegration of implants in irradiated bone with and without hyperbaric oxygen treatment: an experimental study in rat Tibiae.

PURPOSE: Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) has been recommended to enhance implant osseointegration in irradiated bone. The aim of this study was to further investigate the effects of HBO on implant integration in irradiated bone tissue. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present study was an experimental intraindividual study in 16 rats. A single fraction of 20 Gy external irradiation was applied to one rat hind leg, while the other served as a nonirradiated control. Three days after radiation, two implants were inserted in each tibial tuberosity. The rats were divided into two groups: non-HBO treated (group 1) and HBO treated (group 2). Five weeks after radiation, removal torque tests were performed. Implants with surrounding tissue were processed to undecalcified cut and ground sections for histomorphometric evaluations of bone-to-implant contact and bone area. Retrieved bones were also investigated with dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. RESULTS: The non-HBO treated rats (group 1) demonstrated higher, but not statistically significantly higher, values in the nonirradiated leg for all investigated parameters compared to the HBO-treated rats (group 2). However, the mean value for bone area was significantly higher in the irradiated sides compared to the nonirradiated control sides. CONCLUSIONS: In the present study, HBO treatment did not have a significant impact on osseointegration of implants in irradiated bone.

Fostering the coexistence of caring philosophy and economics in today's health care system.

For the past decade, several health care systems are undergoing continuous administrative restructuring, whose main objective is cost reduction. These changes often result in the patients' needs not being met because nurses are continuously affected by widespread budget cuts and staff downsizing. Have we reached a point, where we are setting aside our prime directive of patient well-being for the sake of finances? If so, are we at risk of forsaking our professional identity as nurses? The authors believe that caring management and economical constraints can coexist while promoting quality patient care. The purpose of this article is to show how nurse managers and administrators can facilitate caring practices while maintaining their financial responsibilities within the health care organization. This article suggests several strategies for assisting nurse managers in promoting caring in the health care environment.

Dental implant treatment in diabetic patients.

The purpose of the present study was twofold: (1) to investigate how many diabetic patients and types of cases that are treated with dental implants in our clinic; and (2) assess the outcome of such treatment. Medical records from 782 patients were examined in patients treated by the Brånemark method for partial or total edentulism with implant supported bridges. From these records, 25 patients (3.2%) with diabetes before implant treatment (136 implants) were identified and further studied with respect to age, gender, type of diabetes, treated jaw, degree of edentulism, bone graft, implant survival, periimplant inflammation, bleeding on probing, and radiographic bone loss. Furthermore, the patients' opinion about the outcome of the treatment was registered. The implant success rate was 96.3% during the healing period and 94.1% 1 year after surgery. Of all 38 bridges, one was lost. Few complications occurred and all patients, except for one, were satisfied with the treatment. Today, diabetic patients are being treated successfully for all types of edentulism, including bone-grafting treatment. Diabetics that undergo dental implant treatment do not encounter a higher failure rate than the normal population, if the diabetics' plasma glucose level is normal or close to normal as assessed by personal interviews.