Postoperative alopecia: a case report and literature review

Postoperative alopecia is the temporary or permanent loss of hair that occurs following prolonged immobilization during general anesthesia and intubation. The clinical and histopathologic aspects of a typical case are described and the literature reviewed. Localized pressure-induced ischemia is the likely cause. Patients at highest risk for permanent hair loss include those subject to cardiac or gynecologic surgical procedures where the combined intraoperative and postoperative intubation time exceeds twenty-four hours. Frequent intraoperative and postoperative head repositioning provides excellent prophylaxis.