Surgical Complications in Irradiated Patients

Abstract

<h3>Introduction</h3> In the past there have been numerous articles pertaining to surgical resections in tissue which had previously been irradiated. Prior to 1950, most articles written by surgeons stated that the complications attendant to operating in irradiated tissue were almost too high to justify the attempt. In later years, a more optimistic mood is noted in the literature, and surgeons have operated more frequently in irradiated tissues. The newer concept of combined therapy (irradiation followed by excision) for certain malignancies of the head and neck, as suggested by MacComb¹and others,^2,3has led to renewed interest in studies of complications attendant to surgery in irradiated tissues. Two years ago, the Section of Radiation Therapy, the University of Michigan, reported complication rates in 50 patients with head and neck carcinoma who were irradiated and then underwent surgery. Complication rates in these 50 patients were compared to and noted to