Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41704120›Full record

Observational studyThe Journal of laryngology and otology2026

The incidence of respiratory infections in patients undergoing major oral cavity and maxillary and mandibular resections with free flap reconstruction for head and neck cancer.

Rachel Wijayarathna, Gareth D Jones, Samantha Ringshall, Eui-Sik Suh, Ricard Simo, Andreas Xyrichis, Nicola Peat

Abstract readObservational Study
In one paragraph

Observational study in The Journal of laryngology and otology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Rachel WijayarathnaPhysiotherapy, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7204-043X
Gareth D JonesPhysiotherapy, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
Samantha RingshallPhysiotherapy, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
Eui-Sik SuhLane Fox Unit, St Thomas' Hospital, London, UK.
Ricard SimoDepartment of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
Andreas XyrichisKing's College London, London, UK.
Nicola PeatPhysiotherapy, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesThis study aimed to analyse respiratory infection rates (RI) in a representative cohort and evaluate if tumour size, pre-existing respiratory co-morbidities, smoking history, and tracheostomy predicted postoperative infection.

methodsA retrospective observational study at a London tertiary head and neck oncology centre reviewed six years of patient data. BMJ Best Practice guidelines for hospital-acquired pneumonia (2022) were applied to medical records alongside postoperative RI prescriptions.

resultsRI occurred in 32% of patients, more often in those with tracheostomy (36%) than intubation (12%). Infected patients were older (p=0.025), had tracheostomy (p=0.045), and underwent bilateral neck dissection (p<0.001). ICU (p=0.008) and hospital LOS (p<0.001) were significantly higher. Age, smoking, respiratory disease, tumour stage, and airway type were not predictors.

conclusionRI were more frequent in tracheostomised patients, though assessed risk factors were not predictive. Further research should explore additional contributors and evaluate targeted interventions to reduce incidence.

Indexed as

Free Tissue FlapsHead and Neck NeoplasmsPlastic Surgery ProceduresPostoperative ComplicationsRespiratory Tract InfectionsAdultAgedAged, 80 and overFemaleHumansIncidenceLondonMaleMandibleMaxillaMiddle AgedcancerHead and neck cancerhead and neck surgerymaxillofacial surgeryoutcomesprimary carerespiratory medicine

Identifiers

PMID41704120
PMCPMC13443437

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.