title: An audit of Björk flap tracheostomies in head and neck plastic surgery.
abstract: Patients undergoing head and neck surgery for malignancy especially resection of parts of the upper aerodigestive tracts need a secure airway intra- and postoperatively. A tracheostomy is an effective method of achieving this objective. In our unit the Björk flap technique1 has been the preferred type of tracheostomy. Ninety-five consecutive Björk flap tracheostomies performed by one surgeon preceding major head and neck resection for malignancy in patients aged 17-79 years (median = 61 years) were retrospectively evaluated. The technique was quick and provided a secure airway. The tracheostomy tubes were left in situ for a median of 5 days (range 1-17 days). After extubation subsequent stoma closure was uneventful, 60% healing within 1 week. No patient developed tracheal fistula, clinical tracheal stenosis or cosmetically unacceptable scarring. There was no tracheostomy-related mortality. It is concluded that the Björk flap tracheostomy technique can be safely used in head and neck cancer surgery in adults.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, St. James's University Hospital, Leeds.
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Malata
authors.forename: I T
authors.initials: IT
authors.lastname: Foo
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Simpson
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Batchelor
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000564:Ameloblastoma / Q000601:surgery; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008339:Mandibular Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D008485:Medical Audit; D008875:Middle Aged; D009060:Mouth Floor / Q000601:surgery; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013518:Surgery, Plastic / Q000379:methods*; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000209:etiology; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D014139:Tracheostomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*