ArticleEuropean archives of oto-rhino-laryngology : official journal of the European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Head and Neck Surgery2021
Postoperative management of antithrombotic medication in microvascular head and neck reconstruction: a comparative analysis of unfractionated and low-molecular-weight heparin.
Article in European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology : official journal of the European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
8 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 17 citations in OpenAlex.
- Postoperative anticoagulation in patients with microvascular reconstruction - a systematic review.Oral and maxillofacial surgery · 2025Pooled it
- Does Intraoperative Heparin Administration Reduce Postoperative Complications in Deep Inferior Epigastric Perforator Flap Breast Reconstruction?Plastic and reconstructive surgery. Global open · 2026Article
- Impact of intermittent pneumatic compression stockings on pulmonary embolism rates after laryngectomy: A retrospective Before-After comparative study.European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology : official journal of the European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Head and Neck Surgery · 2026Article
- [Research progress on perioperative anticoagulants in perioperative period of free flap transplantation].Zhongguo xiu fu chong jian wai ke za zhi = Zhongguo xiufu chongjian waike zazhi = Chinese journal of reparative and reconstructive surgery · 2025Review
- Preventing Free Flap Complications: Key Factors to Keep in Mind.Journal of surgical oncology · 2025Article
- Impact of perioperative anticoagulation management on free flap survival in reconstructive surgery: a retrospective analysis.BMC anesthesiology · 2025Article
- Successful microvascular surgery in patients with thrombophilia in head and neck surgery: a case series.Journal of medical case reports · 2024Article
- Unplanned reoperation after radical surgery for oral cancer: an analysis of risk factors and outcomes.BMC oral health · 2022Article
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Authors and funding
8 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
purposeFree flap reconstruction is a valuable technique to preserve function in oncological head and neck surgery. Postoperative graft thrombosis is a dreaded risk. This study aims to compare low-dose unfractionated heparin (UFH) and low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) in perioperative thrombosis prophylaxis.
methodsThis is a retrospective analysis of 266 free flaps performed at our academic center. A comparison was made between 2 patient groups, based on their respective postoperative prophylaxis protocols either with UFH (n = 87) or LMWH (n = 179). Primary endpoints were the frequency of transplant thrombosis and the number of flap failures. Secondary endpoints were the occurrence of peri- and postoperative complications.
resultsThe flap survival rate was 96.6% and 93.3% for the groups UFH and LMWH, respectively (P = 0.280). The rate of postoperative bleeding requiring revision was 4.6% and 6.7% for each group, respectively (P = 0.498). We found a hematoma formation in 4.6% and 3.9% (P = 0.792).
conclusionThe free-flap survival rate using low-dose UFH seems to be equivalent to LMWH regimens without compromising the postoperative outcome. Consequently, for risk-adapted thrombosis prophylaxis, either LMWH or UFH can be administrated.
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