ABSTRACT
Objective:
To evaluate the predicting factors affecting post-operative free flap complications in patients who underwent flap reconstruction due to tissue defect in the lower extremity and who were followed up in the intensive care unit (ICU) between 2014 and 2018.
Materials and Methods:
Demographic data, size of tissue defect, hemoglobin level, duration of anaesthesia and surgery, amount of blood transfusion, presence of post-operative complications, length of hospital stay, tissue culture results, and length of ICU stay were recorded, retrospectively. Statistical analysis was performed on SPSS.
Results:
The most common cause of tissue defect was traffic accidents and defect size was 118.35±74.74 cm2. Post-operative complications were observed in 12 (42.9%) patients. The most common complications were hematoma and partial flap necrosis. The culture results in 10 patients (35.7%) were found to be positive. Smoking, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score and age were significantly higher in patients who developed post-operative flap complications (p<0.05), compared with those who did not. Length of ICU stay was similar. Post-operative length of hospital stay was longer in these patients (p<0.05).
Conclusion:
In our study, smoking, age and ASA score were important risk factors for the development of post-operative flap complications. The length of hospital stay was longer in these patients.