Complications of neck dissection at a tertiary level hospital: study of 30 cases

Metastatic dissemination into lymph nodes of neck occurs frequently in head neck cancers which down grade the patient's curability and survival. Neck dissection is a curable option for its management. To evaluate the complications following different types of neck dissection. This cross sectional study was conducted among patients undergone different types of neck dissection due to cervical nodal metastasis and attended follow up during July 2010 to June 2011 in Department of ENTs and Head-Neck surgery Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Among 30 selected patient, 23 were male (76.67%) and 7 were female (23.33%), age ranged from 31-72 years (Mean=59.1±5.44). In different modalities of neck dissection 11 were modified neck dissection (36.67%) and 10(33.33%) were radical neck dissection. Common indication was carcinoma of unknown origin (66.67%). Involved neck nodes were commonly level II-IV (69.99%). Nodal stage was N2(50%) and N3 (40%).Common immediate complications were bleeding 03(10%), facial oedema 02 (6.67%) and thoracic duct injury 02(6.67%). Intermediate complications were seroma 05(16.67%), wound infection 04(13.33%) and chylous fistula 02(6.67%), Late Complications were hypertrophic scar 07(23.33%) and shoulder syndrome 06(20%). Proper indications, skilled surgery along with early recognize and treatment in both early and late manifestations of neck dissection preventing its grave sequence.