Use of a Non-ICU Specialty Ward For Immediate Post-operative Management of Head and Neck Free Flaps: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Free flaps are an instrumental component of head and neck reconstructive surgery. There is no current consensus on the postoperative management of these patients despite the increasing frequency with which free flaps are used. Although patients often do not have a specific medical indication for postoperative ICU management, they frequently are sent to the ICU for postoperative care based on the need for close nurse monitoring of the flap. In a US based survey in 2007, 88.9% of head and neck surgeons were sending postoperative flap patients to the ICU. Typical ICU length of stay for these patients varies from 2-11 days. There are numerous theoretic disadvantages to ICU care in these patients. ICU care has been associated with increased use of sedation leading to decreased flap perfusion, prolonged use of ventilation, less self care, less ambulation, increased delirium and increased cost.

Due to these concerns, several institutions have developed protocols that allow for the monitoring of head and neck free-flap patients outside of the ICU. Two recent retrospective studies assessed outcomes using these protocols, including 257 patients (119 ICU, 138 ward) and showed no significant difference in morbidity and mortality, or flap failure between the groups. There was a significant increase LOS from 8 to 9 days and transfusion rate, in the ICU group. Another study looked at 247 patients (175 ICU, 72 ward) and found no difference between flap failure, reoperation, hematoma, wound complications between the groups. They also found an increased LOS from 7 to 8 days in the ICU group. They calculated cost difference and found a decrease in average patient cost from $101,199 to $86,195 in the ward group. These studies support the use of non-ICU care for head and neck free-flap patients, however given their retrospective nature significant biases may exist, tempering the strength of their conclusions. To date, there has never been a Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) that addresses this question.

This is a non-inferiority RCT at UCDMC to assess differences in LOS, complication rate and resource utilization between patients randomized to the ICU and a head and neck specialty ward. Since ICU/Ward bed availability has to be determined before surgery, a subject will be randomized before surgery when the subject meets all inclusion and none of the exclusion criteria. Currently, postoperative flap patients who are not enrolled in the study at UCDMC are monitored in the ICU for a minimum of 24 hours following their surgery.