Catastrophic Outcomes in Free Tissue Transfer: A Six-Year Review of the NSQIP Database

Background. No studies report robust data on the national incidence and risk factors associated with catastrophic medical outcomes following free tissue transfer. Methods. The American College of Surgeons (ACS) multicenter, prospective National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database was used to identify patients who underwent free tissue transfer between 2006 and 2011. Multivariable logistic regression was used for statistical analysis. Results. Over the 6-year study period 2,349 patients in the NSQIP database underwent a free tissue transfer procedure. One hundred and twenty-two patients had at least one catastrophic medical outcome (5.2%). These 122 patients had 151 catastrophic medical outcomes, including 93 postoperative respiratory failure events (4.0%), 14 pulmonary emboli (0.6%), 13 septic shock events (0.5%), 12 myocardial infarctions (0.5%), 6 cardiac arrests (0.3%), 4 strokes (0.2%), 1 coma (0.0%), and 8 deaths (0.3%). Total length of hospital stay was on average 14.7 days longer for patients who suffered a catastrophic medical complication (P < 0.001). Independent risk factors were identified. Conclusions. Free tissue transfer is a proven and safe technique. Catastrophic medical complications were infrequent but added significantly to length of hospital stay and patient morbidity.