Enhanced Recovery Achieving the Aims of Head and Neck Cancer Surveillance: A Traffic Light System
- Resource Type
- Authors
- Alexandra M. Lee; Anil Joshi; Andrew Lyons; Richard Oakley; Ricard Simo; Teresa Guerrero Urbano
- Source
- Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery. 149
- Subject
- Protocol (science)
Retrospective review
medicine.medical_specialty
business.industry
Head and neck cancer
medicine.disease
Surgery
Traffic signal
Otorhinolaryngology
Enhanced recovery
medicine
Intensive care medicine
business
- Language
- ISSN
- 1097-6817
0194-5998
Objectives:Post-treatment head and neck cancer surveillance (PTHNCS) shows inconsistency in the duration of surveillance and frequency between reviews; its rationale is controversial although generally accepted. We pilot a PTHNCS that uses the principles of enhanced recovery and implements the recommendations of the Head and Neck Cancer multi-disciplinary 2011 guidelines (HNCMDG).Methods:Retrospective review. The recommendations of the HNCMDG 2011 were used to generate a 15 visit, 5 year PTHNCS protocol. A traffic light analogy explains its rationale and reinforces the positive implications associated with progression to patients. A patient appointment/information card has been developed to outline the five year surveillance schedule and highlight red flag symptoms that suggest recurrence and require early review. The follow up of all patients who completed chemoradiation for HNC in the first half of 2011 was compared.Results:47 patients received treatment: 21 patients on PTHNCS protocol, 20 (95%) attende...