title: Risk factors of recipient site infection in head and neck cancer patients undergoing pectoralis major myocutaneous flap reconstruction.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the factors associated with infection at the recipient site of pectoralis major myocutaneous flap (PMMF) of head and neck cancer patients. We retrospectively reviewed head and neck cancer patients who underwent PMMF reconstruction and identified those with recipient site infection. Variables of patients with and without infection were compared and associated factors were investigated by logistic regression model. A total of 478 patients were included in the final analysis and 183 patients (38.3%) developed recipient site infection. Lower margin of skin island, concurrent tracheotomy, diabetes mellitus, mandibular plate reconstruction, prior radiation, and peri-operative blood transfusion were independent factors associated with recipient site infection of PMMF. Skin island of PMMF beyond the eighth intercostal space markedly increased the risk of recipient site infection after major head and neck cancer surgery. Recognition of relevant factors associated with infection may help surgeons to identify those at risk.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, No. 1650, Sect 4, Taiwan Boulevard, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chao-Hsien
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yong-Kie
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, No. 1650, Sect 4, Taiwan Boulevard, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ching-Ping
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, No. 1650, Sect 4, Taiwan Boulevard, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chen-Chi
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, No. 1650, Sect 4, Taiwan Boulevard, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Rong-San
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chih-Sheng
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, No. 1650, Sect 4, Taiwan Boulevard, Taichung, Taiwan. saliu@vghtc.gov.tw.|Faculty of Medicine, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan. saliu@vghtc.gov.tw.
authors.forename: Shih-An
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D064827:Myocutaneous Flap; D010369:Pectoralis Muscles / Q000637:transplantation*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000209:etiology*
keywords: Head neck cancer; Logistic regression model; Pectoralis major myocutaneous flap; Radiation; Surgical site infection