Archives of Craniofacial Surgery (대한두개안면성형외과학회지)

Korean Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association (대한두개안면성형외과학회)
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Does Low-Dose Heparin Have a Significant Role in Free Flap Surgery?

  • An, Mun-Young (Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Chonbuk National University Hospital) ;
  • Shin, Jin Yong (Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Chonbuk National University Hospital) ;
  • Lee, Young-Keun (2 Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Chonbuk National University Medical School) ;
  • Sabbagh, M. Diya (Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Mayo Clinic) ;
  • Roh, Si-Gyun (Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Mayo Clinic) ;
  • Lee, Nae-Ho (Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Chonbuk National University Hospital)
  • Received : 2017.05.30
  • Accepted : 2017.09.04
  • Published : 2017.09.20
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Abstract

Background: It is controversial issue that heparin decreases thrombosis for microsurgical anastomosis, and its effective role is under discussion. This study is for proving whether low-dose heparin is preventing thrombosis in free flap reconstruction. Methods: Through chart reviews of 134 patients, using low-dose heparin for free tissue transfer from 2011 to 2016, retrospective analysis was performed. 33 patients received low-dose heparin therapy after surgery. And 101 patients received no-heparin therapy. Complications included flap necrosis, hematoma formation, dehiscence and infection. Results: In no-heparin therapy group, comparing the flap necrosis revealed 16 cases (15.84%). And, flap necrosis was 6 cases (18.18%) in low-dose heparin therapy group. The statistical analysis of flap necrosis rate showed no significant difference (p=0.75). The results showed that there was no significant difference of flap necrosis rate between two groups. Conclusion: In this study, patients in the low-dose heparin group had no significantly lower rates of flap failure compared with no-heparin group. This suggests that low-dose heparin may not prevent thrombosis and subsequent flap failure to a significant extent.

Keywords

References

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