BACKGROUND:To evaluate the effect of infection and dehiscence of operative wound in local control of squamous cell carcinoma of upper aerodigestive tract, identifying factors related to these complications. METHODS: A retrospective study of 239 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of mouth, oropharynx and hypopharynx treated at Departament of Surgery of Head and Neck Surgery and Otorrinolaringology of Heliópolis Hospital between 1990 and 1996. Preoperative hemogram and proteinogram were evaluated in relation to the risk of dehiscence and infection of the operative wound. The rates of local recurrence were compared among patients with and without dehiscence/infection of the operative wound. RESULTS: Advanced stage disease (stage IV) and albumin/globulin ratio less than 1.2 were more frequent among patients that developed dehiscence/infection (DI) of the operative wound. The rate of local recurrence was 49% for patients with DI and 42% for those without DI. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with advanced stage disease and those with albumin/globulin ratio less than 1.2 have a higher risk of dehiscence /infection of the operative wound. Dehiscence and/or infection did not demonstrate relationship with local recurrence.
Prognostic; Dehiscence surgical wound; Infection surgical wound; Carcinoma, squamous cell; Head and Neck neoplasms; Complications; Surgery
