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. 2021 Mar 27;13(7):1545.
doi: 10.3390/cancers13071545.

Impact of Goal Directed Therapy in Head and Neck Oncological Surgery with Microsurgical Reconstruction: Free Flap Viability and Complications

Blanca Tapia  1 , Elena Garrido  2 , Jose Luis Cebrian  3 , Jose Luis Del Castillo  3 , Javier Gonzalez  3 , Itsaso Losantos  4 , Fernando Gilsanz  1
Affiliations

Impact of Goal Directed Therapy in Head and Neck Oncological Surgery with Microsurgical Reconstruction: Free Flap Viability and Complications

Blanca Tapia et al. Cancers (Basel). .

Abstract

(1) Background: Surgical outcomes in free flap reconstruction of head and neck defects in cancer patients have improved steadily in recent years; however, correct anaesthesia management is also important. The aim of this study has been to show whether goal directed therapy can improve flap viability and morbidity and mortality in surgical patients. (2) Methods: we performed an observational case control study to analyse the impact of introducing a semi invasive device (Flo Trac®) during anaesthesia management to optimize fluid management. Patients were divided into two groups: one received goal directed therapy (GDT group) and the other conventional fluid management (CFM group). Our objective was to compare surgical outcomes, complications, fluid management, and length of stay between groups. (3) Results: We recruited 140 patients. There were no differences between groups in terms of demographic data. Statistically significant differences were observed in colloid infusion (GDT 53.1% vs. CFM 74.1%, p = 0.023) and also in intraoperative and postoperative infusion of crystalloids (CFM 5.72 (4.2, 6.98) vs. GDT 3.04 (2.29, 4.11), p < 0.001), which reached statistical significance. Vasopressor infusion in the operating room (CFM 25.5% vs. GDT 74.5%, p < 0.001) and during the first postoperative 24h (CFM 40.6% vs. GDT 75%, p > 0.001) also differed. Differences were also found in length of stay in the intensive care unit (hours: CFM 58.5 (40, 110) vs. GDT 40.5 (36, 64.5), p = 0.005) and in the hospital (days: CFM 15.5 (12, 26) vs. GDT 12 (10, 19), p = 0.009). We found differences in free flap necrosis rate (CMF 37.1% vs. GDT 13.6%, p = 0.003). One-year survival did not differ between groups (CFM 95.6% vs. GDT 86.8%, p = 0.08). (4) Conclusions: Goal directed therapy in oncological head and neck surgery improves outcomes in free flap reconstruction and also reduces length of stay in the hospital and intensive care unit, with their corresponding costs. It also appears to reduce morbidity, although these differences were not significant. Our results have shown that optimizing intraoperative fluid therapy improves postoperative morbidity and mortality.

Keywords: cardiac output monitors; fluid therapy; free flap surgery; goal directed therapy.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Colloids (Day 1). Classical fluid management (CMF)/Goal directed therapy (GDT).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Crystalloids (mL/kg) (Day 1). Classical fluid management (CMF)/Goal directed therapy (GDT).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Crystalloids (mL/kg/h) (Day 1). Classical fluid management (CMF)/Goal directed therapy (GDT).
Figure 4
Figure 4
Intensive care length of stay (hours). Classical fluid management (CMF)/Goal directed therapy (GDT).
Figure 5
Figure 5
Hospital length of stay (days). Classical fluid management (CMF)/Goal directed therapy (GDT).
Figure 6
Figure 6
Free flap necrosis rate (%).
Figure 7
Figure 7
GDT algorithm.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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