The Impact of Discharge Disposition on Timely Adjuvant Therapy Following Head and Neck Surgery

Sunday, October 12, 2025

1:24 PM - 1:30 PM EDT

Location: 127

Disclosure(s):

Cristina E. Benites, MBS:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Colyn T. White, BS:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Introduction: Surgery, radiation therapy (RT), and chemoradiotherapy (CRT) are standard treatments for head and neck cancer cases, determined by factors such as cancer stage, tumor location, patient performance status, prior treatments, age, comorbidities and social or logistical considerations. Delays in starting RT or CRT after surgery are linked to lower survival rates and higher recurrence. While post-operative discharge location impacts short-term outcomes, its influence on the timely initiation of adjuvant therapy remains unclear. This study aims to assess how discharge location affects the timely start of adjuvant therapy to improve care coordination.

Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted of patients surgically treated by head and neck otolaryngologists at a tertiary care center between January 1st, 2014, and January 1st, 2023. Charts were queried for post-operative discharge location and timely initiation of adjuvant therapy which has been widely defined as being within the first 42 days following the initial operation.

Results: Of the 1,895 patients, only 950 (50.13%) patients required post-operative adjuvant therapy. Of these 950 patients, 792 (83.37%) were discharged to home and 158 (16.63%) were discharged to a post-acute care facility. Of the 158 patients that were discharged to a post-acute care facility, only 18 patients (11.39%) initiated adjuvant therapy on time compared to 237 (29.92%) of the 792 patients that were discharged directly to home (p < 0.001). Average time to RT was 47.5 days for patients who were discharged to home compared to 60 days for patients who were discharged to a facility (p < 0.001).

Conclusions: This analysis indicates that discharge location may have an impact on timely initiation of adjuvant therapy following head and neck cancer surgery. This becomes an important patient-centered consideration in discharge disposition decisions, so as not to delay adjuvant treatment.

Presenting Author(s)

Colyn T. White, BS

Medical Student
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL, United States

Disclosure(s):
faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Co-Author(s)

Cristina E. Benites, MBS

MS4
NSUMD
Miami, FL, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.

Co-Author(s)

LB

Logesvar Balaguru

Research Fellow
University of Florida
Norman, Oklahoma, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.
AL

Austin S. Lam, MD

Assistant Professor
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.
DC

Dustin Conrad, MD

Assistant Professor
University of Florida, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.

Senior Author(s)

PD

Peter T. Dziegielewski, MD

Chief, Head and Neck Surgical Oncology & Microvascular Reconstructive Surgery
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.