Factors in Successful Elimination of Elective Tracheotomy in Mandibular Reconstruction With Microvascular Tissue.

Importance: Limited data exist on performing major oral cavity resections and reconstructions without elective tracheotomy.

Objectives: To describe a group of patients who successfully underwent major microvascular mandibular reconstruction without an elective tracheotomy and to perform a literature review to identify commonalities between our group and the available literature to identify potential common factors that might contribute to the success of this approach.

Design, Setting, And Participants: Case series with retrospective medical chart review of 15 patients who underwent fibula microvascular free flap reconstruction of mandibular defects without tracheotomy between 2000 and 2014 (the most common indication was osteoradionecrosis) conducted at a tertiary referral hospital center.