Risk factors of thrombosis in a single method of microsurgical head and neck reconstruction: A multi-institutional study of 773 reconstructions with a free jejunal graft after total pharyngolaryngoesophagectomy for hypopharyngeal cancer.

BACKGROUND

The risk factors for thrombus formation in anastomotic vessels in free-flap head and neck reconstruction have been previously reported. However, the evidence is inconsistent.

METHODS

In total, 773 patients who underwent free jejunal graft reconstruction after pharyngolaryngoesophagectomy for hypopharyngeal cancer were enrolled at 12 institutions in Japan from 1995 to 2006. Both the resection area and the applied reconstruction method were constrained to overcome the limitations of previous studies. After the exclusion of recurrent cases, odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for thrombosis were calculated in a multivariate logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

Postoperative anastomotic thrombosis developed in 23 patients (3.0%). In the multivariate analysis, the OR for thrombosis per 100-mL increase in blood loss was 1.24 (95% CI = 1.02-1.51), even after controlling for other risk factors.

CONCLUSION

Our results show that the blood loss volume is an independent risk factor for thrombosis in free tissue grafts. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: 1708-1716, 2016.