Short summary

This is a single center retrospective chart review to identify, characterize and evaluate factors that have an impact on delayed discharge in 130 patients with cancer in the oral cavity who have undergone microvascular reconstruction of the oral cavity with a free flap from April 2009 - December 2022. Factors limiting the discharge of the patient will be recorded and mapped during length of hospitalization(Length of stay).

Rationale

Free tissue transfer reconstruction surgeries are usually required after radical extended resection of head and neck cancers (HNC) to close the defect, fill dead space, create routes for feeding and swallowing, and to maintain or improve facial appearance. Patients with HNC frequently suffer from coexisting conditions, making them prone to complications and extensive hospitalization. To overcome the complex challenges inherent to surgical removal of head and neck cancer, perioperative care must contain a multimodal approach, using all available elements of care that improve recovery. A growing body of literature shows that Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS), a perioperative care regime, is superior to conventional care, resulting in fewer surgical complications, minimizing surgical stress, and a shortened length of stay. Previous reports of ERAS programs for head and neck cancer patients with microvascular reconstruction have delivered inconsistent results and published ERAS protocols are primarily based on extrapolated evidence from different procedures, emphasizing the importance of further studies to be made.

Description of the cohort

130 patients with cancer in the oral cavity who have undergone microvascular reconstruction of the oral cavity with a free flap from April 2009 - December 2022.

All patients have undergone surgery at the department of plastic surgery, Odense University Hospital.

Data and biological material

Patient journal.