Immediate Use of Uncuffed Tracheostomy after Free Flap Reconstruction of the Head and Neck

摘要

Objective To determine if immediate postoperative uncuffed tracheostomy placement following oral cavity or oropharyngeal head and neck free flap reconstruction is associated with shorter hospital length of stay and higher inpatient decannulation rates without an increase in respiratory complications, as compared with immediate placement of cuffed tracheostomy.