Perioperative Vasopressor Use in Free Flap Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (07) ◽  
pp. 529-540 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cindy S.L. Goh ◽  
Marcus J.M. Ng ◽  
David H. Song ◽  
Adrian S.H. Ooi

Background The use of vasopressors in free flap surgery has traditionally been avoided due to the presumed risk of pedicle vasospasm leading to flap failure. However, there is a lack of strong clinical evidence to suggest that their administration during microvascular surgery is absolutely contraindicated. The aim of this study is to clarify the impact of perioperative vasopressor use on free flap outcomes. Methods A systematic review was performed of all English-language articles that have compared free flap outcomes between patients who received vasopressors and those who did not. The outcome measures were total flap failure, pedicle thrombosis, and overall flap complications. Meta-analysis was performed using Mantel–Haenszel fixed-effects and DerSimonian and Laird random-effects models. Results From a total of 130 citations, 14 studies representing 8,653 cases were analyzed. Majority of these did not find any negative effects of vasopressor use irrespective of dose, timing of administration, and method of delivery. Meta-analysis demonstrated that vasopressors were associated with less total flap failure overall (odds ratio, [OR]: 0.71, p = 0.05) and less pedicle thrombosis in head and neck reconstruction specifically (OR: 0.58, p = 0.02). Flap complication rates were similar across all defect types (OR: 0.97, p = 0.81) but appeared to be increased in breast reconstruction (OR: 1.46, p = 0.01). Conclusion Perioperative vasopressor administration does not appear to be as detrimental to free flap survival as has been previously feared. Their role in optimizing hemodynamic stability may have a more beneficial effect on overall flap perfusion and in minimizing the complications of iatrogenic fluid overload.

2017 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 91-98
Author(s):  
Jennifer L. K. Matthews ◽  
Noor Alolabi ◽  
Forough Farrokhyar ◽  
Sophocles H. Voineskos

Background: The necessity of a second venous anastomosis in free flap surgery is controversial. The purpose of this systematic review is to determine whether venous flap failure and reoperation rates are lower when 2 venous anastomoses are performed. The secondary objective is to determine whether venous flap failure and reoperation rates are lower when the 2 veins are from 2 different drainage systems. Methods: A comprehensive search of the literature identified relevant studies. Investigators independently extracted data on rates of flap failure and reoperation secondary to venous congestion. A meta-analysis was performed; odds ratios (ORs) were pooled using a random-effects model and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: Of 18 190 studies identified, 15 were included for analysis. The mean sample size was 287 patients (minimum = 102, maximum = 564). No statistically significant difference in venous flap failure was found when comparing 1 versus 2 venous anastomoses (OR: 1.35; 95% CI: 0.46-3.93). A significant decrease in reoperation rate due to venous congestion was shown (OR: 3.03; 95% CI: 1.64-5.58). The results favor using 2 veins from 2 different systems over veins from the same system (OR: 0.16; 95% CI: 0.02-1.27). Conclusions: There is low-quality evidence suggesting that the use of 2 venous anastomoses will lower the rate of reoperation due to venous congestion. There are insufficient data published to meaningfully compare outcomes of flaps with 2 venous anastomoses from different systems to flaps with anastomoses from the same system.


2017 ◽  
Vol 34 (02) ◽  
pp. 087-094 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jinglong Liu ◽  
Quan Shi ◽  
Shuo Yang ◽  
Bo Liu ◽  
Bin Guo ◽  
...  

Background Due to limited evidence, it is unclear whether postoperative anticoagulation therapy may lead to higher success rates for microvascular free-flap surgery in the head and neck. This review evaluated whether postoperative anticoagulation therapy can lead to a better result in head and neck reconstruction. Methods PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library were used to search for articles on the efficacy of postoperative antithrombotic therapy in free-flap transfer during head and neck reconstruction without language restrictions in February of 2017. A random-effects model was used to estimate the relative risk ratio (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The measured outcomes were flap loss, thromboembolic events, and hematoma formation. Results A total of 2,048 free-flap surgery procedures in the head and neck were analyzed. There was no significant difference in the occurrence of flap loss and thromboembolic events in the anticoagulation group compared with the nonanticoagulation group (RR = 1.25, 95% CI = 0.85–1.81, p = 0.26; and RR = 1.05, 95% CI = 0.74–1.48, p = 0.79, respectively). The risk of hematoma was twice as high in the anticoagulation group than the nonanticoagulation group, which was statistically significant (RR = 2.02, 95% CI = 1.08–3.76, p = 0.03). Conclusion The findings from our meta-analysis indicate that postoperative anticoagulation therapy barely decreases the risks of flap loss and thromboembolic events in free-flap surgery in the head and neck. However, it may significantly increase the risk of hematoma formation. Considering the limitations of this meta-analysis, additional high-quality, multicenter, prospective, randomized controlled studies are needed to confirm these findings.


Microsurgery ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 38 (7) ◽  
pp. 804-818 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan Maerten Smit ◽  
Vera L. Negenborn ◽  
Sanne M. Jansen ◽  
Mariëlle E. H. Jaspers ◽  
Ralph de Vries ◽  
...  

2009 ◽  
Vol 111 (3) ◽  
pp. 545-554 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abtin Tabaee ◽  
Vijay K. Anand ◽  
Yolanda Barrón ◽  
David H. Hiltzik ◽  
Seth M. Brown ◽  
...  

Object Surgery on the pituitary gland is increasingly being performed through an endoscopic approach. However, there is little published data on its safety and relative advantages over traditional microscope-based approaches. Published reports are limited by small sample size and nonrandomized study design. A meta-analysis allows for a description of the impact of endoscopic surgery on short-term outcomes. Methods The authors performed retrospective review of data from their institution as well as a systematic review of the literature. The pooled data were analyzed for descriptive statistics on short-term outcomes. Results Nine studies (821 patients) met inclusion criteria. Overall, the pooled rate of gross tumor removal was 78% (95% CI 67–89%). Hormone resolution was achieved in 81% (95% CI 71–91%) of adrenocorticotropic hormone secreting tumors, 84% (95% CI 76–92%) of growth hormone secreting tumors, and 82% (95% CI 70–94%) of prolactin secreting tumors. The pooled complication rates were 2% (95% CI 0–4%) for CSF leak and 1% (95% CI 0–2%) for permanent diabetes insipidus. There were 2 deaths reported in the literature that were both related to vascular injury, giving an overall mortality rate of 0.24%. Conclusions The results of this meta-analysis support the safety and short-term efficacy of endoscopic pituitary surgery. Future studies with long-term follow-up are required to determine tumor control.


2018 ◽  
Vol 97 (7) ◽  
pp. 213-216 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Forner ◽  
Blair A. Williams ◽  
Fawaz M. Makki ◽  
Jonathan R.B. Trites ◽  
S. Mark Taylor ◽  
...  

Our objectives were to review all reported cases of late flap failure in head and neck surgery and describe any relevant patterns. We conducted a systematic review of all published cases of free flap failure after postoperative day 7 in head and neck surgery from January 1990 to January 2018. Data were collected with respect to flap type, site of reconstruction, reason for failure, and time to failure. A total of 45 cases of late free flap failure in the head and neck were identified. Among the 34 cases in which the necessary data were available for analysis, 50% of late failures occurred between postoperative day 7 and 14. Common reasons for failure were abscess and vascular compromise. We conclude that most late flap failures occur in the second postoperative week. In patients with risk factors for flap failure, close monitoring for up to 14 days after surgery could detect flap compromise before the flap is lost.


2009 ◽  
Vol 141 (2_suppl) ◽  
pp. P41-P41
Author(s):  
Marcus M. Monroe

1995 ◽  
Vol 112 (5) ◽  
pp. P38-P38
Author(s):  
Neal D. Futran ◽  
Jeffrey R. Haller

Educational objectives: To avoid complications in microvascular head and neck reconstruction by having a better understanding of patient and flap selection, preoperative planning, postoperative care, and monitoring and to delineate the techniques and procedures to manage free flap complications when they occur.


2021 ◽  
Vol 48 (5) ◽  
pp. 511-517
Author(s):  
Steven Liben Zhang ◽  
Hui Wen Ng

The use of free flaps is an essential and reliable method of reconstruction in complex head and neck defects. Flap failure remains the most feared complication, the most common cause being pedicle thrombosis. Among other measures, thrombolysis is useful when manual thrombectomy has failed to restore flap perfusion, in the setting of late or established thrombosis, or in arterial thrombosis with distal clot propagation. We report a case of pedicle arterial thrombosis with distal clot propagation which occurred during reconstruction of a maxillectomy defect, and was successfully treated with thrombolysis using recombinant tissue plasminogen activator. We also review the literature regarding the use of thrombolysis in free flap surgery, and propose an algorithm for the salvage of free flaps in head and neck reconstruction.


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