Cardiovascular and respiratory complications after major head and neck surgery.
BACKGROUND
Our aim was to gain insight into the incidence rates for, distribution of, and risk factors of postoperative cardiovascular and respiratory complications in major head and neck surgery.


METHODS
We performed a retrospective review of 469 patients who had undergone primary major head and neck surgery. Outcome measures were incidence rates, risk factors, and distribution over time for postoperative cardiovascular and respiratory complications. A multivariate analysis was performed.


RESULTS
The incidence rates for cardiovascular and respiratory complications were 57 of 469 (12%) and 50 of 469 (11%), respectively. The incidence rate for heart failure exceeded that for pneumonia. The peak incidence for cardiovascular complications was on the first postoperative day; for respiratory complications, on the second postoperative day. Risk factors for cardiovascular complications were age, pulmonary disease, alcohol abuse, and tumor location; risk factors for respiratory complications were pulmonary disease, previous myocardial infarction, and American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) grade.


CONCLUSIONS
In this study, the incidence rates for cardiovascular and respiratory complications were very similar. The first postoperative day was crucial with regard to cardiovascular complications. Age and chronic pulmonary diseases were the common risk factors for cardiovascular and respiratory complications.
Buitelaar
Dirk R
DR
Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, The Netherlands Cancer Institute/Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX Amsterdam, The Netherlands. d.buitelaar@nki.nl
Balm
Alfons J M
AJ
Antonini
Ninja
N
van Tinteren
Harm
H
Huitink
Johannes M
JM
D000368:Aged; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007825:Laryngectomy; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D012307:Risk Factors