Risk Factors for Surgical Site Infection in Patients with Oral Cancer: A Systematic Review

The aim of this study was to evaluate the risk factors for surgical site infections (SSIs) in patients with oral cancer.

The Cochrane Library, PubMed, Embase, Medline, and Web of Science databases were searched from inception to 15 March 2024. Research data on SSIs in patients with oral cancer were collected. Meta analysis was conducted using the Stata 16.0 software package.

Nine observational studies (case cohort studies) with a total of 4360 participants were included. The incidence of SSI was 22.22%. Risk factors that increased the pooled adjusted odds of SSI included flap reconstruction (pooled odds ratio [OR] 4.50, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.13-9.50; p < 0.0001), postoperative serum albumin (pooled OR 2.51, 95% CI 1.98-3.18; p < 0.0001), perioperative blood transfusion (pooled OR 3.04, 95% CI 2.11-4.37; p < 0.0001), longer operative time (pooled OR 2.18, 95% CI 1.22-3.90; p < 0.008), diabetes mellitus (pooled OR 3.67, 95% CI 2.13-6.33; p < 0.0001), American Society of Anesthesiologists score (pooled OR 1.37, 95% CI 1.15-1.64; p = 0.001), mandibulectomy (pooled OR 4.35, 95% CI 2.39-7.04; p < 0.0001), and oral-neck communication (pooled OR 3.88, 95% CI 2.04-7.36; p < 0.0001).

Oral cancer patients with the above risk factors are at risk of SSI after surgery. This study can serve as a baseline reference in this regard and can help develop public health strategies to prevent SSI in patients with oral cancer after surgery.