Strategies for Reducing Surgical Site Infections After Oral Cancer Resection and Free-flap Reconstruction.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Despite numerous efforts to reduce surgical site infection (SSI) in patients undergoing head and neck reconstruction, infection rates have remained high. Recently, we introduced an original perioperative wound management protocol that includes 3 steps: intraoperative irrigation of the surgical field with iodine saline, compression of the dead space in the postoperative period, and oral care by reconstructive surgeons. Here we described our management protocol and reported changes in SSI rates and associated outcomes.

Methods

This study included 120 consecutive patients who underwent resection and free-flap reconstruction for oral cancers at our institution from 2020 to 2022. The study compared cases with perioperative wound management without our protocol (control

SUBMITTER: Nakakawaji M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12459436 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature