TY - JOUR
T1 - Examining Trends in Implantable Arterial Doppler Usage Among North American Head and Neck Microsurgeons
T2 - A Survey Study
AU - Langenfeld, Tyler L.
AU - Wu, Kevin G.
AU - Anderson, Spencer R.
AU - Reece, Mac Kenzie J.
AU - Puscas, Liana
AU - Wax, Mark K.
AU - Johnson, R. Michael
AU - Kadakia, Sameep P.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 Elsevier Inc.
PY - 2023/11
Y1 - 2023/11
N2 - Background: There are variations in implantable arterial Doppler usage for microvascular free tissue monitoring among North American surgeons. Identifying utilization trends among the microvascular community may elucidate practice patterns that may be useful in determining protocols. Furthermore, study of this information may yield novel and unique applications in other disciplines such as vascular surgery. Methods: Electronically disseminated survey study shared with a large database of North American head and neck microsurgeons. Results: Seventy four percent of respondents use the implantable arterial Doppler; 69% report use in all cases. Ninety five percent remove the Doppler by the seventh postoperative day. All respondents felt that the Doppler did not impede care progression. Any implication of flap compromise was followed with a clinical assessment in 100% of respondents. If viable, 89% would continue monitoring after clinical examination, while 11% would take the patient for exploration regardless of clinical examination. Conclusions: The efficacy of the implantable arterial Doppler has been established in the literature and is supported by the results of this study. Further investigation is required to establish a consensus on use guidelines. The implantable Doppler is more often used in conjunction with rather than substitution for clinical examination.
AB - Background: There are variations in implantable arterial Doppler usage for microvascular free tissue monitoring among North American surgeons. Identifying utilization trends among the microvascular community may elucidate practice patterns that may be useful in determining protocols. Furthermore, study of this information may yield novel and unique applications in other disciplines such as vascular surgery. Methods: Electronically disseminated survey study shared with a large database of North American head and neck microsurgeons. Results: Seventy four percent of respondents use the implantable arterial Doppler; 69% report use in all cases. Ninety five percent remove the Doppler by the seventh postoperative day. All respondents felt that the Doppler did not impede care progression. Any implication of flap compromise was followed with a clinical assessment in 100% of respondents. If viable, 89% would continue monitoring after clinical examination, while 11% would take the patient for exploration regardless of clinical examination. Conclusions: The efficacy of the implantable arterial Doppler has been established in the literature and is supported by the results of this study. Further investigation is required to establish a consensus on use guidelines. The implantable Doppler is more often used in conjunction with rather than substitution for clinical examination.
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U2 - 10.1016/j.avsg.2023.05.010
DO - 10.1016/j.avsg.2023.05.010
M3 - Article
C2 - 37236532
AN - SCOPUS:85161575328
SN - 0890-5096
VL - 97
SP - 351
EP - 357
JO - Annals of Vascular Surgery
JF - Annals of Vascular Surgery
ER -