Nurse-Led Microsurgical Free Flap Monitoring: A Scoping Review and Evidence-Based Framework.

ABSTRACT: Background: Postoperative free flap monitoring, traditionally performed by surgical residents, has shifted toward nurse-led models due to global workforce constraints. While this practice is widespread, its implementation is fragmented, creating a "standardization gap" between successful outcomes and reproducible protocols. This scoping review aimed to comprehensively map all available evidence on nurse involvement in free flap monitoring and synthesize the findings into an evidence-based framework for implementation. Methods: A scoping review was conducted following PRISMA-ScR guidelines. A comprehensive search of PubMed, CINAHL, and the Cochrane Library was performed without date or language restrictions. Data from included studies were charted and synthesized narratively t

SUBMITTER: Kang D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12608914 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature