Risk Factors for Post-operative Complications in Primary Oral Cancer Surgery—a Prospective Study

The surgical treatment of oral cavity cancers can be influenced by post-operative complications. Identification of risk factors based on clinical characteristics may assist in therapeutic planning and thereby helps in reducing complications. Here, an attempt is made to identify the factors associated with post-operative complications (complications developing within 1 month of surgery) in patients undergoing primary oral cancer surgery. Six hundred seventy-six consecutive patients who underwent primary surgery for oral cancer from December 2007 to May 2010 were prospectively evaluated. The risk factors that predict for post-operative complications were analyzed. There was one mortality and 15% (103 patients) had post-operative complications. The complications included metabolic complications, primary site problems, donor site problems, and systemic complications. Fifteen factors were found statistically significant for the development of post-operative complications by univariate analysis. On multivariate analysis, three of the 15 factors, i.e., presence of COPD, full thickness wide excision, and increased duration of surgery were found to be independently associated with the development of post-operative complications. Presence of COPD, full thickness wide excision, and increased duration of surgery were identified as independent risk factors for post-operative complications in primary oral cancer surgery. The development of complications invariably resulted in increased hospital stay. Hence, the prompt recognition of risk factors for complications based on pre-operative clinical characteristics plus the identification of the risks associated with the surgical procedure can help in determining the appropriate therapeutic planning to prevent complications and in achieving cost effectiveness.