Risk factors for wound infection in head and neck cancer surgery: a prospective study

Abstract

Background: The goal of this prospective study is to determine risk factors for wound infections (WI) for patients with head and neck cancer who underwent surgical procedure with opening of upper aerodigestive tract mucosa.

Methods: One hundred sixty-five consecutive surgical procedures were studied at Oscar Lambret Cancer Center within a 24-month interval. Twenty-five variables were recorded for each patient. Statistical evaluation used Chi2 test analysis (categorical data) and Mann-Whitney test (continuous variables).

Results: The overall rate of WI was 41.8%. Univariate analysis indicated that five variables were significantly related to the likelihood of WI: tumor stage (p =.044), previous chemotherapy (p =.008), duration of preoperative hospital stay (p = 022), permanent tracheostomy (p =.00008), and hypopharyngeal and laryngeal cancers (p =.008).

Conclusions: Despite antibiotic prophylaxis, WI occurrence is high. These data inform the head and neck surgeon, when a patient is at risk for WI and may help to design future prospective studies.