Vitamin D deficiency tied to fistula development after reconstructive head and neck surgery: Study

Written By :  Medha Baranwal
Medically Reviewed By :  Dr. Kamal Kant Kohli
Published On 2021-08-25 03:30 GMT   |   Update On 2021-08-25 03:31 GMT
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USA: Patients with vitamin D deficiency are more likely to develop fistula following major head and neck surgery, a recent study in journal The Laryngoscope has revealed. 

Vitamin D deficiency is a commonly observed health problem in the world and has been associated with many chronic diseases. The importance of vitamin D deficiency in anesthesia management is increased. Considering this John Symms, University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson, Tucson, Arizona, U.S.A., and colleagues aimed to investigate the association of vitamin D level and perioperative complications in patients undergoing major head and neck surgery in a retrospective cohort study.

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The researchers performed a retrospective chart review for all patients undergoing reconstructive head and neck surgery between December 2017 and December 2019. Data regarding serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (calcidiol) level, patient demographics, hospital course, prior radiation, and fistula formation were collected. 

Patients with vitamin D levels <20 ng/mL were considered deficient and ≧20 ng/mL were considered sufficient and outcomes were compared between the groups. 

Fifty-seven patients were included in the analysis. The average age at the time of surgery was 62.6 ± 10.6 years. 

The research yielded the following findings:

  • Individuals in the deficient group (n = 29) had a mean serum calcidiol level of 13.95 ± 3.95 ng/mL, whereas those in the sufficient group (n = 28) had a mean calcidiol level of 28.53 ± 5.73 ng/mL.
  • The rate of fistula was 41.4% in the deficient group, whereas patients in the sufficient group had a rate of fistula of 14.3%.
  • On multivariate analysis, higher serum calcidiol level above 20 ng/mL was associated with a lower likelihood of developing fistulae with an odds ratio 0.830.

"Our findings revealed that vitamin D deficiency may play a role in the development of fistula after major head and neck surgery," concluded the authors. 

Reference:

The study titled, "Association of Perioperative Complications with Vitamin D Levels in Major Head and Neck Surgery," is published in The Laryngoscope.

DOI: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/lary.29776

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Article Source : The Laryngoscope

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