Causes of nutrition deficit during immediate postoperative period after free flap surgery for cancer of the head and neck

PURPOSE: The aim of the present of study was to examine nutrition deficit during the immediate postoperative in-hospital period following free flap surgery for cancer of the head and neck (HNC). Underfeeding and malnutrition are known to be associated with impaired short- and long-time recovery after major surgery. METHODS: This single-center retrospective cohort study included 218 HNC patients who underwent free flap surgery in Oulu University Hospital, Finland between the years 2008 and 2018. Nutrition delivery methods, the adequacy of nutrition and complication rates were evaluated during the first 10 postoperative days. RESULTS: A total of 131 (60.1%) patients reached nutritional adequacy of 60% of calculated individual demand during the follow-up period. According to multivariate analysis, nutrition inadequacy was associated with higher ideal body weight (OR 1.11 [1.04–1.20]), whereas adequate nutrition was associated with higher number of days with oral food intake (OR 0.79 [0.67–0.93]). CONCLUSION: Inadequate nutrition is common after HNC free flap surgery. The present results suggest that more adequate nutrition delivery might be obtained by the early initiation of oral food intake and close monitoring of nutrition support.