Perioperative anticoagulation in free microvascular flaps - a comparison of different prophylactic regimes in oncologic reconstructive surgery.

Free tissue transfer has an established place in oncologic head and neck surgery. However, the necessity and specific regimen of perioperative thromboprophylaxis remain controversial. Here, the risk of postoperative hemorrhage contrasts with vascular pedicle thrombosis and graft loss. This work compares three different heparin protocols (A-C) with regard to postoperative complications.