Modified intraoperative temperature management prevents prolonged length of stay after head and neck surgery with free flap reconstruction

The present study aimed to investigate the association between intraoperative body temperature and prolonged length of stay (PLOS) after free flap reconstruction. A total of 753 patients who underwent head and neck surgery with free flap reconstruction were collected and randomly assigned into primary and validation cohorts. In the primary cohort, univariable and multivariable analyses were conducted to evaluate associations between intraoperative time-weighted (TW) temperature (TW average [TWA] temperature, TW hypothermia and TW hyperthermia) and PLOS. Nomograms were developed with and without intraoperative TW temperature, and validated in the validation cohort. Severe intraoperative TW hypothermia (OR = 1.004; 95% CI: 1.000, 1.007; p = 0.032) was identified as an independent risk factor for PLOS. Intraoperative TWA temperature and TW hypothermia showed linear related predictive effect for PLOS. The nomogram incorporating intraoperative TW temperature showed higher C-index (0.652, 95% CI: 0.591, 0.713) and improved net reclassification improvement for non-event (0.277, 95% CI: 0.118, 0.435; p < 0.001). Lower TWA temperature with mild TW hypothermia had a preventive effect on PLOS with a linear association, which may provide a modified range for intraoperative temperature management. The proposed nomogram incorporating intraoperative TW temperature could be used to develop personalized preventive strategies for PLOS after free flap reconstruction.IRB number: SYSEC-KY-KS-2022-037.