The impact of postoperative glucocorticoids on complications after head and neck cancer surgery with free flap reconstruction: A retrospective study.

<h4>Background</h4>After head and neck cancer surgery with free flap reconstruction, the use of glucocorticoids is often required to alleviate inflammation and edema. However, the impact of glucocorticoid on postoperative complications and cancer progression remains unclear.<h4>Met...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Tao Luo, Ren Zhou, Yu Sun
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2025-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0319655
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850265792381190144
author Tao Luo
Ren Zhou
Yu Sun
author_facet Tao Luo
Ren Zhou
Yu Sun
author_sort Tao Luo
collection DOAJ
description <h4>Background</h4>After head and neck cancer surgery with free flap reconstruction, the use of glucocorticoids is often required to alleviate inflammation and edema. However, the impact of glucocorticoid on postoperative complications and cancer progression remains unclear.<h4>Methods</h4>This retrospective cohort study included 711 elderly patients who underwent head and neck cancer surgery with free flap reconstruction at Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital from January 1, 2014, to December 31, 2022. Patients were categorized based on postoperative glucocorticoid usage into a high-dose steroid group (n = 307) and a control group (n = 404). The study focused on the impact of postoperative GC use on postoperative complications and long-term oncological outcomes.<h4>Results</h4>Multivariate analysis indicated that compared to the control group, the high-dose steroid group had a significant increase in postoperative complications, including atelectasis (OR: 3.83, 95% CI: 1.27-14.11, P = 0.025), postoperative hyperglycemia (OR: 1.54, 95% CI: 1.14-2.08, P = 0.006), and flap complications (OR: 4.61, 95% CI: 3.31-6.47, P < 0.001). These complications often required extended hospital stays (β: 1.656, 95% CI: 1.075-2.236, P <  0.001). Additionally, the high-dose steroid group had a higher rate of unplanned readmissions within one year (OR: 5.61, 95% CI: 3.87-8.25, P < 0.001). The increased readmission rates were notably due to difficulties swallowing requiring percutaneous gastrostomy (OR: 3.62, 95% CI: 1.97-6.98, P < 0.001), recurrence (OR: 9.34, 95% CI: 5.02-19.05, P < 0.001), and metastasis (OR: 4.78, 95% CI: 2.58-9.44, P < 0.001).<h4>Conclusion</h4>The use of high-dose postoperative glucocorticoids is associated with increased postoperative complications, higher readmission rates, and poorer oncological outcomes in patients. The results advocate for cautious use and dosage management of perioperative glucocorticoids in head and neck surgeries to optimize patient outcomes.
format Article
id doaj-art-9b8fc323705b42cdad6fa6fe623f3101
institution OA Journals
issn 1932-6203
language English
publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher Public Library of Science (PLoS)
record_format Article
series PLoS ONE
spelling doaj-art-9b8fc323705b42cdad6fa6fe623f31012025-08-20T01:54:19ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032025-01-01203e031965510.1371/journal.pone.0319655The impact of postoperative glucocorticoids on complications after head and neck cancer surgery with free flap reconstruction: A retrospective study.Tao LuoRen ZhouYu Sun<h4>Background</h4>After head and neck cancer surgery with free flap reconstruction, the use of glucocorticoids is often required to alleviate inflammation and edema. However, the impact of glucocorticoid on postoperative complications and cancer progression remains unclear.<h4>Methods</h4>This retrospective cohort study included 711 elderly patients who underwent head and neck cancer surgery with free flap reconstruction at Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital from January 1, 2014, to December 31, 2022. Patients were categorized based on postoperative glucocorticoid usage into a high-dose steroid group (n = 307) and a control group (n = 404). The study focused on the impact of postoperative GC use on postoperative complications and long-term oncological outcomes.<h4>Results</h4>Multivariate analysis indicated that compared to the control group, the high-dose steroid group had a significant increase in postoperative complications, including atelectasis (OR: 3.83, 95% CI: 1.27-14.11, P = 0.025), postoperative hyperglycemia (OR: 1.54, 95% CI: 1.14-2.08, P = 0.006), and flap complications (OR: 4.61, 95% CI: 3.31-6.47, P < 0.001). These complications often required extended hospital stays (β: 1.656, 95% CI: 1.075-2.236, P <  0.001). Additionally, the high-dose steroid group had a higher rate of unplanned readmissions within one year (OR: 5.61, 95% CI: 3.87-8.25, P < 0.001). The increased readmission rates were notably due to difficulties swallowing requiring percutaneous gastrostomy (OR: 3.62, 95% CI: 1.97-6.98, P < 0.001), recurrence (OR: 9.34, 95% CI: 5.02-19.05, P < 0.001), and metastasis (OR: 4.78, 95% CI: 2.58-9.44, P < 0.001).<h4>Conclusion</h4>The use of high-dose postoperative glucocorticoids is associated with increased postoperative complications, higher readmission rates, and poorer oncological outcomes in patients. The results advocate for cautious use and dosage management of perioperative glucocorticoids in head and neck surgeries to optimize patient outcomes.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0319655
spellingShingle Tao Luo
Ren Zhou
Yu Sun
The impact of postoperative glucocorticoids on complications after head and neck cancer surgery with free flap reconstruction: A retrospective study.
PLoS ONE
title The impact of postoperative glucocorticoids on complications after head and neck cancer surgery with free flap reconstruction: A retrospective study.
title_full The impact of postoperative glucocorticoids on complications after head and neck cancer surgery with free flap reconstruction: A retrospective study.
title_fullStr The impact of postoperative glucocorticoids on complications after head and neck cancer surgery with free flap reconstruction: A retrospective study.
title_full_unstemmed The impact of postoperative glucocorticoids on complications after head and neck cancer surgery with free flap reconstruction: A retrospective study.
title_short The impact of postoperative glucocorticoids on complications after head and neck cancer surgery with free flap reconstruction: A retrospective study.
title_sort impact of postoperative glucocorticoids on complications after head and neck cancer surgery with free flap reconstruction a retrospective study
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0319655
work_keys_str_mv AT taoluo theimpactofpostoperativeglucocorticoidsoncomplicationsafterheadandneckcancersurgerywithfreeflapreconstructionaretrospectivestudy
AT renzhou theimpactofpostoperativeglucocorticoidsoncomplicationsafterheadandneckcancersurgerywithfreeflapreconstructionaretrospectivestudy
AT yusun theimpactofpostoperativeglucocorticoidsoncomplicationsafterheadandneckcancersurgerywithfreeflapreconstructionaretrospectivestudy
AT taoluo impactofpostoperativeglucocorticoidsoncomplicationsafterheadandneckcancersurgerywithfreeflapreconstructionaretrospectivestudy
AT renzhou impactofpostoperativeglucocorticoidsoncomplicationsafterheadandneckcancersurgerywithfreeflapreconstructionaretrospectivestudy
AT yusun impactofpostoperativeglucocorticoidsoncomplicationsafterheadandneckcancersurgerywithfreeflapreconstructionaretrospectivestudy