Blood Count Parameters can be Useful in Predicting Vascular Events in Microvascular Surgery: Results of a Preliminary Study.

[BACKGROUND] Vascular events are a major cause of flap failure and identifying patients who are at risk is of paramount importance. In the past, many studies have been conducted to investigate the effect of blood count parameters for ischemic events such as peripheral vascular diseases.

[AIMS] This study aimed to evaluate whether blood count parameters can have predictive value for vascular events in microvascular flap surgery.

[METHODS] Elective cases with free flap microsurgery performed in a single center were reviewed from 2015 to 2019. Demographic data, comorbidities, flap types, perioperative complications, and preoperative blood count parameters from the hospital records were screened.

[RESULTS] A total of 147 patients were included in the study, taken from the 163 patients undergoing free tissue transfer. The rate of thrombosis and partial necrosis was 8.8%, was 8.2%, respectively, and the total flap loss due to these complications was 5.4%. Only patient age, gender, and length of hospital stay were correlated with flap loss. According to the preoperative blood count results, there were significant differences between vascular events and leucocyte, and neutrophil counts.

[CONCLUSION] The findings of this preliminary study suggest that these parameters may be used in predicting vascular events in flap surgery.