Postoperative care in ICU versus non-ICU after head and neck free-flap surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: Admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) has long been considered as routine by most head and neck surgeons after microvascular free-flap transfer. This study aimed to answer the question 'Is there a difference in the flap survival and postoperative complications rates between admission to intensive care unit (ICU) versus Non-ICU following microvascular head and neck reconstructive surgery?'.

Design: Systematic review, and meta-analysis.