Early predictors of fistula formation following head and neck reconstruction.

BACKGROUND: Salivary fistula formation is a common and serious complication following head and neck reconstruction. Because it can cause delayed wound healing and infection and carotid artery rupture in severe cases, early detection and treatment are crucial. This study was designed to identify early predictors of postoperative fistula formation.

METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients who underwent head and neck reconstruction between 2015 and 2022. Body temperature, serum white blood cell (WBC) count, and serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were assessed until postoperative day (POD) 14 and compared between patients with and without fistula.

RESULTS: In this study, 200 patients were included. No significant differences in body temperature and WBC count were observed between the two groups during the entire study period. CRP levels after POD2 were higher in the fistula group than in the without fistula group. From the receiver operating characteristic curves comparing the two groups, the best cutoff level for CRP was 6.27 mg/dL from POD7 to POD8, with 77.1% sensitivity, 69.8% specificity, and 90.1% negative predictive value.

CONCLUSION: CRP is a valuable predictor of fistula formation following head and neck reconstruction. The course of CRP levels in patients with fistulas remains consistently elevated compared to patients without fistulas, and it is particularly useful for the exclusion diagnosis of fistula.