Surgical Complications in Irradiated Patients

Infectious and Noninfectious Complications in Major Head and Neck Surgery

“…The 42% total complication rate and 24% infectious complication rate in patients with previous radiotherapy are approximately twice the 23% total complication rate and 10% infectious complication rate in patients without previous radiotherapy. Our series confirms previous reports 12 • 14 that higher complication rates occur in patients with previous radiotherapy, especially those who received tumoricidal doses and are considered radiation failures.…”

A study of the effect of pre-radiation on healing of surgical wounds in the treatment of cancers of the head and neck

“…But other investigators got figures similar to present study i.e. Habel, Marchetta et al, Griffin et al [9][10][11] The explanation could be that Marcial et al 10 choose the patients randomly without any prejudice and the patients received a fixed dose of radiation in a fixed span of time i.e. 5000 rads in 5 weeks.…”

“…As the number of cases are small due to the paucity of time this subject needs an extensive search to establish these facts, as some modern investigations are pointing to a conclusion that pre-radiation does not hamper tissue healing (Marchial et al, 1982) as contrary to others (Habel, 1965;Marchetta et al, 1967;and Marcial et al, 1980).…”

“…9 Marchetta, Sako and Maxwell found wound complications developing in 43% cases who had preradiation and 22% cases who did not have pre-radiation. The percentage of cases developing wound complications in the present study is higher both in the pre-radiated and non-pre-radiated groups.…”

Assessment and Treatment Outcomes of Persistent Radiation-Induced Alopecia in Patients With Cancer

“…Procedural specialists and surgeons have traditionally been wary of intervening at sites of previous radiotherapy, with concerns of increased healing time, wound dehiscence, and infection . However, success has been reported with reconstructive procedures in both recently and formerly irradiated body sites including the scalp .…”