Effect of 2 Teams and Operative Time on Complications After Oral Cavity Free Flap Reconstruction

Evaluate the effects of operative time and 2 team approach on complications after soft tissue free flap reconstruction for oral tongue cancer.

Patients with oncologic glossectomy with myocutaneous or fasciocutaneous free flap reconstruction were included from the 2015 to 2018 American College of Surgery National Surgical Quality Improvement Program. The primary predictive variables assessed were operative time and 2 team approach; control variables included age, sex, body mass index (BMI), 5-question-modified frailty index (mFI-5), American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) class, and total work relative value units (wRVU). Outcomes assessed included 30-day mortality, 30-day reoperation, hospital length of stay beyond 30 days, readmission, medical and surgical complications, and non-home discharge. Multivariable logistic/linear regression models were used to predict surgical outcomes.

Microvascular soft tissue free flap reconstruction of the oral cavity after glossectomy was performed on 839 patients. Operative time was independently associated with readmission, prolonged length of stay, surgical complications, medical complications, and non-home discharge. A 2-team approach was independently associated with prolonged length of stay and medical complications. The mean operative time of the 1-team and 2-team approach was 8.73 and 9.13 hours. The 1-team approach did not significantly increase operative time (P = .16).

In the largest study to date of operative time on post-surgical outcomes after glossectomy and soft tissue free flap reconstruction, we found longer operative times increased rates of postoperative complications and non-home discharge. The 1-team approach is non-inferior to the 2-team approach with respect to operating time and complications.