[Prophylactic antibiotic therapy with amoxicillin-clavulanic acid in oropharyngeal surgery]

The present paper shows the results of a randomized, prospective trial carried out on 170 patients undergoing elective surgery for oropharyngeal cancer. These patients were distributed in two groups that received a prophylactic therapy with amoxicillin and clavulanic acid, for 24 hours and 5 days, respectively. Comparing results of short-term and long-term prophylaxis. Among patients undergoing only total or partial laryngectomies, no differences between both groups were found. Among patients who already had a tracheostomy, the rate of local infection was higher in the short-time group. Duration of prophylaxis in high-risk surgery, such as that requiring flap reconstruction, needs further investigation.