Sarcopenia is associated with blood transfusions in head and neck cancer free flap surgery

OBJECTIVE: To determine if sarcopenia is a predictor of blood transfusion requirements in head and neck cancer free flap reconstruction (HNCFFR). METHODS: A single‐institution, retrospective review was performed of HNCFFR patients with preoperative abdominal imaging from 2014 to 2019. Demographics, comorbidities (modified Charlson Comorbidity Index [mCCI]), skeletal muscle index (cm(2)/m(2)), oncologic history, intraoperative data, and 30‐day postoperative complications (Clavien‐Dindo score [CD]) were collected. Binary logistic regression was performed to determine predictors of transfusion. RESULTS: Eighty (33.5%), 66 (27.6%), and 110 (46.0%) of n = 239 total patients received an intraoperative, postoperative, or any perioperative blood transfusion, respectively. Sixty‐two (25.9%) patients had sarcopenia. Patients receiving intraoperative transfusions had older age (P = .035), more frequent alcoholism (P = .028) and sarcopenia (P < .001), greater mCCI (P < .001), lower preoperative hemoglobin (P < .001), reconstruction with flaps other than forearm (P = .003), and greater operative times (P = .001), intravenous fluids (P < .001), and estimated blood loss (EBL, P < .001). Postoperative transfusions were associated with major complications (CD ≥ 3; P < .001). Multivariate regression determined sarcopenia (P = .023), mCCI (P = .013), preoperative hemoglobin (P = .002), operative time (P = .036), and EBL (P < .001) as independent predictors of intraoperative transfusion requirements. Postoperative transfusions were predicted by preoperative hemoglobin (P = .007), osseous flap (P = .036), and CD ≥ 3 (P < .001). A perioperative transfusion was predicted by sarcopenia (P = .021), preoperative hemoglobin (P < .001), operative time (P = .008), and CD ≥ 3 (P = .018). CONCLUSION: Sarcopenia is associated with increased blood transfusions in HNCFFR. Patients should be counseled preoperatively on the associated risks, and the increased blood product requirement should be accounted in resource‐limited scenarios. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4.