Abstract: Objectives: To investigate the characteristics of self-reported symptoms of patients during hospitalization after head and neck tissue flap repair, to provide a theoretical basis for subsequent symptom burden research. Methods: Convenient sample of postoperative patients who underwent tissue flap transplantation from September to November, 2017. Patients' written reports of various symptoms and discomforts were collected and analyzed. Data collection was stopped with the saturation of symptoms. Results: A total of 31 patients were enrolled, including 17 males and 14 females. Symptoms of pain, discomfort, dyspnea, difficulty in falling asleep, heat/hyperhidrosis, and dry mouth were often reported and account for more than 29.0% of the reports. Most patients (67.7%) had more than 3 symptoms, and some reported combination of 5 items (16.1%) and 4 items (12.9%). One patient reported 10 types of uncomfortable symptoms. There were no statistical differences in the number of self-reported symptoms among demographic factors, types of soft and hard tissue flaps, or whether tissue flaps were vascularized (P<0.05). Conclusion: The self-reported symptoms of patients after head and neck tissue flap transplantation are vary, but they are concentrated in a few major symptoms.

Key words: head and neck; tissue flap repair; symptom; patient-report