Risk factors for wound infection in head and neck cancer surgery: a prospective study.
BACKGROUND
The goal of this prospective study is to determine risk factors for wound infections (WI) for patients with head and neck cancer who underwent surgical procedure with opening of upper aerodigestive tract mucosa.


METHODS
One hundred sixty-five consecutive surgical procedures were studied at Oscar Lambret Cancer Center within a 24-month interval. Twenty-five variables were recorded for each patient. Statistical evaluation used Chi2 test analysis (categorical data) and Mann-Whitney test (continuous variables).


RESULTS
The overall rate of WI was 41.8%. Univariate analysis indicated that five variables were significantly related to the likelihood of WI: tumor stage (p =.044), previous chemotherapy (p =.008), duration of preoperative hospital stay (p = 022), permanent tracheostomy (p =.00008), and hypopharyngeal and laryngeal cancers (p =.008).


CONCLUSIONS
Despite antibiotic prophylaxis, WI occurrence is high. These data inform the head and neck surgeon, when a patient is at risk for WI and may help to design future prospective studies.
Penel
N
N
Head and Neck Cancer Department, Oscar Lambret Cancer Center, 3 Rue F. Combemale, Lille 59020 BP 207, France.
Lefebvre
D
D
Fournier
C
C
Sarini
J
J
Kara
A
A
Lefebvre
J L
JL
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007825:Laryngectomy; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D014139:Tracheostomy
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents