Risk factors for postoperative hemorrhage in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma: A retrospective study.

Abstract

Postoperative hemorrhage is one of the life-threatening complications of oral cancer surgery. The purpose of this study was to identify the risk factors in a large cohort. Patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma who had received surgery were enrolled. The variables between patients with and without postoperative hemorrhage were compared using univariate and multivariate models. Of the 1513 patients (or 1581 cases) enrolled in the study, 34 patients suffered from postoperative hemorrhage. In the univariate analysis, cigarette, and alcohol consumption, floor of mouth tumors, T4 classified tumors, flap reconstruction, surgical site infection, and flap necrosis were risk factors for postoperative hemorrhage. In the multivariate model, flap necrosis and surgical site infection were independent risk factors for postoperative hemorrhage. The patients with surgical site infection or flap necrosis should be closely monitored in order to avoid postoperative hemorrhage.