Head and neck free tissue transfer in a patient with factor V Leiden: case report and review of the literature.

Hypercoagulable disorders can compromise success of free flap reconstruction. Factor V Leiden is one such disorder for which only one previously reported case of successful free tissue transfer in the head and neck has been described. We report a 70-year-old woman with factor V Leiden treated for stage IVA squamous cell carcinoma of the mandible with a composite resection and reconstruction with an osteocutaneous scapular free tissue transfer. The free tissue transfer occurred without complications, in the setting of intraoperative heparin, postoperative aspirin, and enoxaparin. The free tissue transfer continues to be viable at her most recent follow-up appointment. The hypercoagulable patient represents a diverse presentation of increased coagulation risk in the perioperative period. Considering a patient's history and understanding available treatment adjuncts can factor heavily in a patient with factor V Leiden successfully undergoing free tissue transfer for head and neck defects.