Ketorolac Use After Head and Neck Free Tissue Transfer Is Not Associated With Increased Flap Complications.

BACKGROUND

The primary goal of the study is to assess bleeding complications and evaluate ketorolac for its safety in cancer patients undergoing head and neck free-flap surgery.

METHODS

Two cohorts of head and neck cancer patients undergoing free-flap surgery were identified using ICD-10 and CPT codes. Cohort 1 received ketorolac within 5 days of surgery (n = 2280); Cohort 2 did not receive ketorolac within 5 days of surgery (n = 2280). Postoperative hemorrhage occurrence and secondary outcomes were assessed.

RESULTS

Ketorolac was not associated with increased risk of postoperative hemorrhage (RR: 0.825, p = 0.016), flap revisions (RR: 0.767, p < 0.001), blood vessel repair (RR: 0.528, p < 0.001), AKI (RR: 0.664, p = 0.003), and G-tube placement (RR: 0.884, p = 0.021).

CONCLUSIONS

In this retrospective cohort, postoperative ketorolac was not associated with increased complications within the 30-day period.