TOPICAL ANTISEPTIC MOUTHWASH IN ONCOLOGICAL SURGERY OF THE ORAL CAVITY AND OROPHARYNX

A multivariant analysis of the value of the use of a pre-operative top ical antiseptic mouthwash to reduce the incidence of post-operative wo und complications in 106 consecutive patients undergoing head and neck surgery involving the oral cavity or oropharynx was carried out at th e University of Iowa, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surge ry. An oral presentation employing povidone-iodine solution was used f or 43 patients. The remaining 63 patients studied received no oral pre sentation. Unfavourable wound outcome was not associated with age, sex , presence and condition of teeth, or serious pre-existing medical ill nesses. A significant correlation was found between post-operative wou nd breakdown and type of closure, stage of disease, and previous opera tion or radiotherapy. The use of an oral preparation correlated signif icantly with favourable wound outcome independent of all other variabl es (p<0.01). Our data support the use of a topical antiseptic mouthwas h to reduce the incidence of post-operative wound complications in sur gery of the oral cavity and oropharynx.