Topical Antisepsis in Head and Neck Cancer Surgery

"Preoperative: The patient's dentition, or mandibular alveolus in the absence of dentition, will be brushed for two minutes with 0.12% chlorhexidine gluconate.~Intraoperative: The wound will be irrigated for 60 seconds with 0.05% chlorhexidine after it is irrigated with povidone-iodine.~Postoperative: Patients will swish and spit/suction 15mL 0.12% Chlorhexidine Gluconate (CHG) oral rinses for 30 seconds every six hours for two days (8 total administrations)"

"Preoperative: The oral cavity and oropharyngeal mucosa as well as the nasal vestibules will be coated with 5% povidone-iodine which will stand for at least three minutes prior to incision.~Intraoperative: The wound will be irrigated for 60 seconds with 10% povidone-iodine."

Postoperative: \~10g 3% tetracycline ointment will be placed into the oral cavity to coat the dorsal tongue and any oral suture lines every six hours for two days (8 total doses).