Complications After Transoral Surgery for Oropharyngeal Cancer: An ACS-NSQIP Database Study

Prior studies have highlighted the risk of perioperative mortality due to catastrophic bleeding in patients receiving transoral surgery (TOS) for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC). Although the 30-day mortality and morbidity remain low, understanding the risk factors associated with complications is still required. The goal of this study is to identify risk factors associated with complications after TOS for OPSCC using the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) database.

A multi-institutional retrospective cohort analysis of the ACS-NSQIP database identified 3,489 patients undergoing TOS for OPSCC between 2010 and 2021. Preoperative risk factors were collected. The primary outcomes were 30-day readmission, reoperation, hemorrhage, and death. Univariate and multivariate analysis was used to identify preoperative risk factors associated with the primary outcomes.

The mean age was 60.6 years, and 81.5% were male. There were 24 deaths (0.7% 30-day mortality rate). The rates of readmission and reoperation were 8.9% and 5.8%, respectively. Smoking (OR = 1.440, 95% CI = 1.097-1.890) and CHF (OR = 3.525, 95% CI = 1.320-9.414) were associated with readmission. Diabetes and ASA 3+ increased the risk of both reoperation (diabetes: OR = 2.679, 95% CI = 1.110-6.468, ASA: OR = 1.701, 95% CI = 1.233-2.346) and hemorrhage (diabetes: OR = 3.488, 95% CI = 1.020-11.926, ASA: OR = 2.290, 95% CI = 1.394-3.764).

This study redemonstrated the safety of TOS for OPSCC, with low 30-day readmission and reoperation rates. Smoking, diabetes, CHF, and ASA 3+ were important preoperative risk factors for complications.

3 Laryngoscope, 135:2385-2391, 2025.