Risk factors for surgical site infection in cervico-facial oncological surgery

Tiago Filipe Santos Cunha, Tanya Alexandra Soares Melancia, Carlos Manuel Zagalo Fernandes Ribeiro, José Américo Almeida de Brito, Susana Sofia Abreu Miguel, Diogo André Abreu Esteves Bogalhão*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

37 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Introduction: Infection after head and neck oncological surgery is relatively frequent, and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Aim: The primary objective of this prospective study was to determine risk factors for Surgical Site Infection (SSI) in major head and neck cancer surgery. Patients and methods: A population of 137 head and neck cancer patients, of the Portuguese Institute of Oncology Francisco Gentil (Lisbon, Portugal), was prospectively studied in order to ascertain the correlation between 31 known risk factors and the presence of SSI. Results: The rate of SSI was 10.9%, with all of the infections being of the deep incisional type. A discriminant analysis and multiple logistic regression methods identified pre-surgical tracheostomy (p < 0.001), previous surgery (p = 0.001) and length of pre-operative hospital stay (p < 0.001) as the most significant risk factors for surgical site infections. Conclusion: In order to minimize the risk of post-operative SSI in the context of head and neck cancer patients, particular attention should be paid to patients submitted to tracheostomy before surgery, to those submitted to previous oncological surgery, and to patients who are forced to remain in the hospital for prolonged periods of time before surgery.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)443-448
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of Cranio-Maxillo-Facial Surgery
Volume40
Issue number5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jul 2012
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Head and neck cancer
  • Length of stay
  • Reoperation
  • Risk factors
  • Surgical wound infection
  • Tracheostomy

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