Surgical site infection in elderly oral cancer patients: is the evaluation of comorbid conditions helpful in the identification of high-risk ones?

PURPOSE: This study was performed to gain some knowledge on the possible relation between surgical site infection (SSI) and geriatric patients who undergo surgical treatment of oral squamous cell carcinoma and to identify the risk factors in this specific population.

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

A retrospective study from 2004 through 2010 at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine was conducted. The primary outcome variable was the presence of SSIs. Twenty-seven variables of the patients concerning general characteristics, comorbidities, disease information, and treatment options were investigated. A multivariate analysis using logistic regression was implemented to find SSI risk factors.

RESULTS

The data of 376 patients (183 men, 48.7%; 193 women, 51.3%) older than 65 years with the diagnosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma were included in the present analysis. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, 6 parameters were identified for a significant and independent association with the development of SSI: body mass index (P = .0086); diabetes (P < .0001); American Society of Anesthesiologists score (P = .0127); Adult Comorbidity Evaluation-27 score (P = .0392); operation time (P = .0003); and reconstruction with pectoralis major myocutaneous flaps or free flaps (P < .0001).

CONCLUSIONS

Special attention to SSIs should be given to elderly patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma. The authors advocate a preoperative evaluation of comorbidities and the selection of high-risk elderly patients for a more effective prevention of SSIs.