Abstract

Head and neck free flap surgery is associated with considerable morbidity and mortality. Goal-directed fluid therapy (GDFT) has been increasingly adopted in perioperative care; however, its benefit over conventional fluid therapy (CFT) in this setting remains uncertain. This systematic review and meta-analysis assessed the effect of GDFT versus CFT on post-operative outcomes. A comprehensive search of PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Dental/Oral Science, and Google Scholar identified randomised controlled trials published between 2010 and 2023. Three studies involving 262 patients (130 GDFT, 132 CFT) were included. Pooled analysis showed no significant difference in flap failure between groups, but CFT was associated with higher risk of flap at risk (risk ratio 4.44; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.35–14.57; P = 0.01), reoperation (risk ratio 2.62; 95% CI: 1.01–6.79; P = 0.05), and longer intensive care unit stay (mean difference 0.94 days; P < 0.001). GDFT may improve outcomes, but larger studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Publication details

DOI
10.18295/2075-0528.2918
Journal
Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal, 25(1), 912-918
Publisher
Sultan Qaboos University
Open access
Gold open access
License
CC BY-ND 4.0

Cite this article

APA 7

Shamim, F., Khan, A. A., Sohail, M., Yunus, R. A., Sohail, M., Munir, T., Shahid, M. S., & Iftikhar, H. (2025). Perioperative Goal Directed Versus Conventional Fluid Therapy in Head and Neck Free Flap Surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal, 25(1), 912-918. https://doi.org/10.18295/2075-0528.2918

MLA 9

Shamim, Faisal, et al. "Perioperative Goal Directed Versus Conventional Fluid Therapy in Head and Neck Free Flap Surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis." Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal, vol. 25, no. 1, 2025, pp. 912-918. https://doi.org/10.18295/2075-0528.2918.

Chicago (author–date)

Shamim, Faisal, Adnan A. Khan, Mahnoor Sohail, Rayaan A. Yunus, Mahad Sohail, Tahir Munir, Muhammad S. Shahid, and Haissan Iftikhar. 2025. "Perioperative Goal Directed Versus Conventional Fluid Therapy in Head and Neck Free Flap Surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis." Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal 25 (1): 912-918. https://doi.org/10.18295/2075-0528.2918.

Harvard

Shamim, F., Khan, A. A., Sohail, M., Yunus, R. A., Sohail, M., Munir, T., Shahid, M. S. and Iftikhar, H. (2025) 'Perioperative Goal Directed Versus Conventional Fluid Therapy in Head and Neck Free Flap Surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis', Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal, 25(1), pp. 912-918. doi:10.18295/2075-0528.2918.

Vancouver

Shamim F, Khan AA, Sohail M, Yunus RA, Sohail M, Munir T, et al. Perioperative Goal Directed Versus Conventional Fluid Therapy in Head and Neck Free Flap Surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal. 2025;25(1):912-918. doi:10.18295/2075-0528.2918

IEEE

F. Shamim, A. A. Khan, M. Sohail, R. A. Yunus, M. Sohail, T. Munir, M. S. Shahid, and H. Iftikhar, "Perioperative Goal Directed Versus Conventional Fluid Therapy in Head and Neck Free Flap Surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis," Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal, vol. 25, no. 1, pp. 912-918, 2025, doi: 10.18295/2075-0528.2918.