Post-operative survival in head and neck cancer patients with elevated troponins

Objectives: The strenuous demands of head and neck cancer surgery (HNS) place patients at increased risk of myocardial injury. Troponin positivity (TP) post-operatively is a predictor of increased complications and mortality. The present study is the first to investigate the effects of TP on potential delays in adjuvant treatment and disease-specific survival.

Design, setting, participants and main outcome measures: All patients undergoing HNS from 2014 to 2016 had troponins measured at a single academic centre. Relevant patient data was extracted on retrospective chart review. The main outcome measures were the impact of TP on timing of adjuvant treatment and disease-specific survival.

Results: Of 166 patients, 26 (15.6%) developed TP post-operatively. There was no significant difference between cohorts for baseline characteristics except for age. Overall and disease-specific survival for TP patients were respectively 45.9% and 57.4% at 3 years. There was no significant difference between cohorts for overall and disease-specific survival, and time to adjuvant therapy.

Conclusion: No significant association was found between TP and overall and disease-specific survival, and time to adjuvant therapy.