Outcomes in microvascular head and neck reconstruction in the setting of restricted residency hours.

BACKGROUND: Resident duty hour restrictions can limit the frequency of resident flap checks at smaller institutions with "home" call. Institutions are compensating with adjuvant nursing flap checks as well as incorporating technology; however, this management remains controversial.

METHODS: A prospective cohort of 122 free flaps for reconstruction of the head and neck by a single surgeon. Demographic information, operative details, postoperative care, and flap outcomes were recorded.

RESULTS: Over 42 months, 122 free flaps were performed on 115 patients. The overall flap success rate was 96%. The flap success rate at 72 h was 98% and 96% at the time of discharge with reexploration rates of 11.6%. The intraoperative and postoperative salvage rates were 71% and 64.3% respectively.

CONCLUSION: Limited resident flap checks combined hourly nurse flap checks and an implantable Doppler is an effective monitoring protocol for academic programs in the setting of residency duty hour restrictions.