Are females predisposed to complications in head and neck cancer free flap reconstruction?

PURPOSE: To investigate gender and other possible factors affecting the frequency and severity of postoperative complications in head and neck cancer free flap reconstruction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective longitudinal cohort study was conducted at the Greek Anticancer Institute, St. Savvas Hospital in head and neck cancer free flap reconstruction concerning postoperative complications. We documented the patients' demographic characteristics, social habits, and perioperative factors (ie, duration of general anesthesia), reconstructive techniques, neoadjuvant radiotherapy, and physical status. Initially, univariate statistical analysis was performed to confirm which predictor variables might influence the presence and severity of complications. Next, multivariate statistical analysis was performed using logistical regression and including the factors that were statistically significant on univariate analysis. RESULTS: From 1999 to 2009, we assessed 95 patients who had undergone surgery for head and neck cancer. Of the 95 patients, 24 were women and 71 were men. The patient age range was 20 to 87 years (mean 52, median 55). A total of 55 complications occurred in 49 patients (51.57%). Of the 55 complications, 12 (12.63%) were of major severity, 21 (22.10%) of median severity, and 22 (23.15%) of low severity. The statistical analysis revealed that the factors associated with complications were preoperative radiotherapy, female gender, and operation time. The factors associated with severe complications were female gender and alcohol use. CONCLUSIONS: Multivariate analysis of the data revealed that the factor associated with an increased incidence of postoperative complications was preoperative radiotherapy. Moreover, the variable that remained statistically significant and correlated with an increased incidence and severity of free flap reconstruction complications was female gender. Identifying the etiology of these findings is an intriguing field for additional research.

Wound healing after laser skin resurfacing: the effect of a silver sulfadiazine-hyaluronic acid-containing cream under an occlusive dressing.

INTRODUCTION: Occlusive dressings promote wound healing after laser skin resurfacing. Our goal was to evaluate whether a cream containing hyaluronic acid-silver sulfadiazine could improve this process. METHODS: Ten guinea pigs received laser resurfacing on the skin of their backs. Polyurethane foam film adhesive dressing was applied. A cream containing hyaluronic acid-silver sulfadiazine was applied under the dressing over half of the wound. Skin biopsies were taken at days 2, 4, 7 and 9 and examined by a pathologist blinded to the study. RESULTS: Re-epithelialization appeared to occur faster in the cream-treated areas, together with a lower level of acute inflammation in the early phase of the healing process. CONCLUSIONS: The cream containing silver sulfadiazine/hyaluronic acid seems to improve wound healing after laser skin resurfacing in guinea pigs. The clinical application of this finding on humans should be assessed.