Factors contributing to delayed decannulation of temporary tracheostomies following free tissue reconstructive surgery for head and neck cancer

Is There an Over-Indication for Elective Tracheostomy in Patients With Oral Cavity Cancer?

OBJECTIVES

Temporary tracheostomies (TT) are often used in oral oncologic surgery to secure the postoperative airway. Our primary objective was to determine if there was an over-indication for elective tracheostomy in our population. If so, our secondary objective was to ascertain which patients could have possibly avoided TT.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We performed a retrospective study of patients with oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma in which resection with curative intent and TT were performed. Variables collected included demographics, comorbidities, and complications. Additionally, we retrospectively applied the Cameron and TRACHY tracheostomy scoring systems to evaluate overall tracheostomy recommendations.

RESULTS

A total of 116 elective tracheostomies were performed between January 2019 and December 2020. According to the Cameron and TRACHY scoring systems, recommendations for tracheostomy coincided in only 54.3% and 45.7%, respectively. Tumor anatomy and type of reconstruction were associated with less time until decannulation. Additionally, in patients without TT recommendation determined by both scores with tumor anatomy and location, as well as T and N stages were also associated with less time until decannulation.

CONCLUSION

There appears to be an over-indication for elective tracheostomy in our patients with oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer. The patients that could have potentially avoided elective TT were those with lateral anatomy, without flap or with fasciocutaneous flap, location in the mandibular alveolus or anterior tongue, as well as N0/N1 and T1/T2 patients.

Immediate postoperative care on high dependency unit or ward following microvascular free tissue transfer: lessons learnt from a change in practice imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in sudden changes to the established practice of using the high dependency unit (HDU) for the first night of postoperative care following microvascular free tissue transfer. Patients were managed instead on the head and neck ward. This retrospective case-note review aimed to report outcomes in consecutive patients treated before and during the pandemic, and to reflect on the implications of ward-based rather than HDU care. A total of 235 patients had free tissue transfer between 3 January 2019 and 25 February 2021: 125 before (lockdown 23 March 2020), and 110 during the pandemic (52 ward-managed and 58 HDU-managed). There were subtle case-mix differences during the pandemic, with 92% of ward-treated patients having oral cancers compared with 64% of HDU patients, and 73% of ward patients having a tracheostomy compared with 40% of HDU patients. Ward patients were less likely to receive electrolyte replacement (45% HDU vs 0% ward) and inotropes (12% HDU vs 2% ward). There were fewer returns to theatre for evacuation of a haematoma or re-anastomosis during the pandemic than there were before it. Other than fewer haematoma complications during the pandemic, the nature of complications was similar. In conclusion, the dramatic changes imposed by the pandemic have shown that the ward is a safe place for patients to be cared for immediately postoperatively, and it alleviates the bed pressures experienced in HDU. Careful case selection and clear criteria are required to identify patients who need the HDU.