Preoperative concurrent chemoradiotherapy versus pre- and postoperative radiotherapy for advanced hypopharyngeal carcinoma: a single-center study

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to improve the survival and phonatory rates in patients with advanced hypopharyngeal carcinoma. METHODS: Seventy-two consecutive patients with advanced hypopharyngeal carcinoma were treated with pre- and postoperative radiotherapy (RTS), or preoperative concomitant chemoradiotherapy (CCRTS). Surgical procedures, including total laryngectomy plus partial pharyngectomy (TLPP) to preserve the posterior pharyngeal wall offering a functional neoglottis for esophageal or tracheoesophageal shunt phonation postoperatively, were conducted for patients who did not achieve CR. RESULTS: A significantly higher survival rate at 5 years (93.3%) was observed for N0-2b stage patients in the CCRTS group (n=16) than the RTS group (n=34; 41.5%) (p<.005). The distant metastasis-free rate was 92.9% (CCRTS group) versus 55.4% (RTS group) (p<.05) in these patients. In the CCRTS group, the 5-year survival rate with laryngeal or esophageal and/or tracheoesophageal shunt phonation was 22.2%. CONCLUSION: It is suggested that the CCRTS protocol and TLPP procedure may improve the survival rates without deterioration of phonatory rates in patients with N0-2b advanced hypopharyngeal carcinoma.     

下咽、颈段食管癌手术切除后保留喉功能与发声重建

目的：探讨下咽、颈段食管癌根治术患者喉功能保留与发声重建的手术方法。方法：对16例下咽、颈段食管癌患者手术切除肿瘤后，实施保留全喉及部分喉切除喉功能重建；全喉切除后Blom-Singer 1期、2期发声重建术，同时下咽及颈段食管缺损分别采用胃－咽吻合、前臂游离皮瓣、胸大肌肌皮瓣、胸三角皮瓣、胸锁乳突肌肌皮瓣，颈前肌皮瓣、喉气管粘膜瓣等方法进行整复。保留全喉8例，保留部分喉喉重建3例，全喉切除后行Blom-Singer发声重建1期4例，2期1例。结果：16例中除1例术后14d心脏病变发死亡外，均恢复了吞咽功能，13例恢复发声功能，6例恢复了全喉功能，2例恢复了部分喉功能（不能拔管）。5例行Blom-Singer发声重建者，均发声成功。结论：依据患者病变部位、肿瘤分期、身体状况、年龄等因素，切除肿瘤后采用不同的手术方法行喉功能保留及发声重建，可提高患者术后生存质量。     

Carcinoma of the posterior wall of the hypopharynx: surgical treatment with larynx preservation

IntroductionPosterior pharyngeal wall is the most rare subsite for hypopharyngeal carcinomas. Because of its rarity, there are few studies published in the literature specifically concerning posterior pharyngeal wall carcinoma.ObjectivesTo report our functional results in patients with the carcinoma of the posterior wall of the hypopharynx after surgical treatment by resection via a lateral or infrahyoid pharyngotomy approach, with the preservation of the larynx and reconstruction with a radial forearm free flap.MethodsThe study included 10 patients who underwent surgery for a carcinoma of the posterior wall of the hypopharynx over a 6 year period. The associated postoperative morbidity was investigated and functional results were analyzed.ResultsNine patients had T3 lesions and one patient had a T2 lesion. The preferred approach to access the hypopharynx was a lateral pharyngotomy in 5 patients and lateral pharyngotomy combined with infrahyoid pharyngotomy in 5 patients with superior extension to oropharynx. The pharyngeal defects were reconstructed successfully with radial forearm free flaps. Four patients received adjuvant radiotherapy only, and 4 patients with N2b and N2c neck diseases received adjuvant chemoradiotherapy. The mean duration of hospitalization was 15.6 days (range, 10–21 days). All patients achieved oral intake in a median time of 74 days (range, 15–180). Decannulation was achieved in all patients and the median time for decannulation was 90 (range, 21–300 days). The mean followup duration was 38.3 months (range, 10–71 months) and 8 patients survived. One patient died due to regional recurrence in the retropharyngeal lymph nodes and 1 patient died due to systemic metastasis.ConclusionPrimary surgery is still a very effective treatment modality for the carcinoma of the posterior wall of the hypopharynx and does not permanently compromise the swallowing and laryngeal functions if pharyngeal reconstruction is performed with a free flap.     

Tracheoesophageal shunt method with omohyoid muscle loop for voice restoration

OBJECTIVE: To decrease the aspiration rate of the previously reported simple mucodermal tracheoesophageal (TE) shunt method for voice restoration after total laryngectomy with the use of omohyoid muscle loop. DESIGN: Retrospective clinical analysis. SETTING: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Fukui Medical University, Fukui, Japan. PATIENTS: Ten male patients underwent total laryngectomy and received TE shunt by the omohyoid muscle loop method for voice restoration. There were 5 patients with glottic laryngeal cancer, 2 with supraglottic laryngeal cancer, and 3 with hypopharyngeal cancer. Patients' age ranged from 46 to 66 years. INTERVENTION: The dermal incision on the neck was U-shaped with a superiorly pedicled, small U-shaped dermal flap. This small flap was used to form the anterior wall of the shunt. Bilateral omohyoid muscles were preserved at the total laryngectomy site with or without neck dissection. After creating a TE shunt directly on the posterior wall of the tracheal stump, the bilateral omohyoid muscles were looped through each other beneath the TE shunt. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Maximum phonation time, maximum phonation intensity, and rating scales of shunt voice, aspiration rate, and survival time. RESULTS: Mean maximum phonation time was 20 seconds, while mean maximum phonation intensity was 83 dB. The first voice was obtained on postoperative day 29 on average. Of the 10 patients, 9 could phonate, with 1 case (10%) of slight aspiration 3 months after the surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Although this omohyoid muscle loop method needs to preserve the hyoid bone with those muscles, aspiration was prevented more effectively compared with the former, direct mucodermal TE shunt method. The indication for this method is preferably glottic laryngeal cancer.     

咽后壁瓣在早期下咽后壁癌切除修复术中的临床应用

目的 探讨应用咽后壁瓣修复早期下咽后壁癌切除后缺损的可行性。 方法 用咽后壁瓣对3例早期下咽后壁癌手术切除后缺损进行修复。 结果 咽后壁瓣愈合良好,患者术后发音、吞咽及呼吸功能恢复良好。 结论 咽后壁瓣修复早期下咽后壁癌手术切除后缺损是一种简单有效的修复方法。     

Voice rehabilitation with Provox2 voice prosthesis following total laryngectomy for laryngeal and hypopharyngeal carcinoma

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the effectiveness of the Provox2 voice prosthesis for voice rehabilitation following total laryngectomy. METHODS: From September 2000 to December 2004, the Provox2 voice prosthesis was used for voice rehabilitation in 32 patients following total laryngectomy. The quality of speech with the Provox2 voice prosthesis was analyzed using the HRS rating scale, the maximum phonation time (MPT), incidence of complications and the in situ lifetime. The rate of speech restoration was further analyzed in 129 patients with total laryngectomy from 1996 to 2004. RESULT: Twenty-nine of 32 patients were able to restore speech using the Provox2 voice prosthesis, a speech restoration rate of 90.6%. The maximum phonation time (MPT) was measured in 18 patients using the Provox2 voice prosthesis. The mean MPT was 15.1 s, with a range of 8-28 s. MPT was not influenced by age, concurrent radiotherapy treatment, the location of the primary tumor or use of reconstructive surgery. The average lifetime of the Provox2 in patients with laryngeal carcinoma (12 patients) and hypopharyngeal carcinoma (17 patients) was 27.2 and 16.6 weeks, respectively, which was significantly different (P=0.024, non-parametric Mann-Whitney's U-test). The rate of speech restoration by the use of esophageal speech, and insertion of an artificial larynx was 62.7% for laryngeal carcinoma (59 cases) and 38.6% for hypopharyngeal carcinoma (70 cases), which was also significantly different (P<0.01, chi-square test). CONCLUSION: Provox2 voice prosthesis speech was very useful due to the higher rate of speech restoration, longer phonatory time, and better intelligibility. It was also thought that voice prosthesis speech was useful in conjunction with esophageal speech and an artificial larynx depending on the patient's condition or wishes.     

Voice restoration after circumferential pharyngolaryngectomy with free jejunum repair

Speech restoration after circumferential pharyngolaryngectomy with free jejunal repair for advanced tumors of the hypopharyngo-esophageal tract remains a difficult problem to solve. We report here the results of secondary voice restoration in six patients who received a Provox 2 type prosthesis and intensive speech therapy after circumferential pharyngolaryngectomy with free jejunum repair. No patient had operative or post-operative complications due to insertion of the prosthesis. No patient had to have the prosthesis removed during the follow-up (8 to 14 months). Analysis of some acoustic parameters of voice (fundamental frequency, waveform perturbations) and qualitative characteristics of speech (intelligibility, pleasantness and acceptability) demonstrated that all the patients were able to produce satisfactory speech after tracheojejunum puncture and speech therapy and were satisfied with their own ability to communicate. Our results are reassuring and we therefore advise that in patients undergoing free jejunum flap reconstruction of the hypopharyngo-esophageal tract voice restoration should be attempted by placing a voice prosthesis through a secondary tracheo-esophageal puncture and providing intensive speech training. Received: 17 December 1998 / Accepted: 29 January 2001     

Surgical voice restoration following ablative surgery for laryngeal and hypopharyngeal carcinoma

Surgical voice restoration is an important part of functional rehabilitation of patients following ablative surgery for laryngeal and hypopharyngeal carcinoma. The aim of this retrospective study was to assess the functional status with regard to speech of a cohort of 100 patients (age ranged 34-84 years), who underwent laryngectomy and laryngopharyngectomy over a 10-year period (1989-1999). Ninety-two patients consented to surgical voice restoration. Primary tracheoesophageal punctures were performed in 70 and secondary punctures in 22 (mainly after jejunal flap reconstruction). Nine patients were excluded from this analysis (seven patients died prior to assessment, one had the prosthesis removed at her request and one patient had insufficient follow-up). Tracheoesophageal speech was assessed in the remaining 83 patients using a rating scale measuring the number of syllables per breath, use of voice and intelligibility by non-professional listeners. Currently, Provox 2 valves are being used in the majority of patients. Overall tracheoesophageal speech results were good in 45/83 (54.2 per cent), average in 22/83 (26.5 per cent) and poor in 15/83 (18 per cent). One patient could not develop tracheoesophageal speech. The majority of laryngectomy patients had good speech but in patients who had complex reconstructions tracheoesophageal speech was mostly rated as average. Average to good speech in more than two-thirds of the cohort of patients show that surgical voice restoration is a highly successful and valuable technique to restore speech functions after ablative surgery for laryngeal and hypopharyngeal carcinoma.     

Squamous carcinoma of the posterior pharyngeal wall.

We present 70 patients with tumours of the posterior pharyngeal wall, considering tumours of the posterior hypopharyngeal and posterior oropharyngeal wall as one unit. Almost half (45%) of the patients were in poor general condition at the time of presentation, and 60% had Stage III or IV tumours. One-third of the patients were untreated, and surgery was mainly reserved for patients with Stage I and II tumours. The larynx could be preserved in two-thirds of those undergoing surgery. The best current method of repair of the posterior pharyngeal wall after partial pharyngectomy appears to be a revascularized radial forearm flap. The median survival for patients with Stage I tumours was 236 weeks, but for patients with Stages II-IV tumours was only 33 weeks. There was no significant difference between the survival for II-IV stage groups, but there was between Group I and the rest. We identify 2 defects in the UICC classification system: lack of definition of the lateral limit of the posterior pharyngeal wall, and a gross discrepancy between size and T staging of tumours arising primarily from the posterior wall of the hypopharynx.     

Squamous carcinoma of the posterior pharyngeal wall

We present 70 patients with tumours of the posterior pharyngeal wall, considering tumours of the posterior hypopharyngeal and posterior oropharyngeal wall as one unit. Almost half (45%) of the patients were in poor general condition at the time of presentation, and 60% had Stage III or IV tumours. One-third of the patients were untreated, and surgery was mainly reserved for patients with Stage I and II tumours. The larynx could be preserved in two-thirds of those undergoing surgery. The best current method of repair of the posterior pharyngeal wall after partial pharyngectomy appears to be a revascularized radial forearm flap. The median survival for patients with Stage I tumours was 236 weeks, but for patients with Stages II-IV tumours was only 33 weeks. There was no significant difference between the survival for II–IV stage groups, but there was between Group I and the rest. We identify 2 defects in the UICC classification system: lack of definition of the lateral limit of the posterior pharyngeal wall, and a gross discrepancy between size and T staging of tumours arising primarily from the posterior wall of the hypopharynx.     

游离胫后动脉穿支皮瓣在局部晚期下咽癌喉功能保留中的应用

目的探讨游离胫后动脉穿支皮瓣在修复局部晚期下咽癌喉功能保留术后缺损的临床价值。方法回顾性分析华西医院耳鼻咽喉头颈外科在2009年8月~2019年1月在下咽癌喉功能保留手术中采用游离胫后动脉穿支皮瓣修复的20例患者临床资料。患者均为男性,年龄47～67岁,病理类型均为鳞状细胞癌。其中梨状窝癌14例,下咽后壁癌6例。皮瓣的面积为4 cm×7 cm~7 cm×12 cm。小腿供瓣区采用腹部全厚皮移植。术后患者均行后续放/化疗。结果术后所有皮瓣均全部存活,无皮瓣坏死及血管危象发生。6例患者术后出现低蛋白血症,4例出现肺部感染,4例出现咽瘘,1例出现供区植皮坏死。所有患者均拔除鼻饲管后经口进食,1例继发喉狭窄。肿瘤控制情况：2例局部复发,其中1例行挽救性全喉切除术,1例死亡。2例出现颈部淋巴结转移,均再次接受根治性颈淋巴结清扫术。结论游离胫后动脉穿支皮瓣具有穿支血管解剖恒定,厚薄适中,血管蒂长和供区隐蔽等优点,术后能耐受根治性放疗,是下咽癌术后缺损重建的理想选择之一。     

Laryngoplasty with a radialis pedicle flap from the forearm: a surgical procedure for voice rehabilitation after total laryngectomy

Tracheoesophageal puncture and insertion of a prosthetic voice device is currently the most widely surgical procedure for vocal rehabilitation after total laryngectomy. The disadvantages of voice prostheses are high initial phonation pressure, formation of granulation tissue around the voice shunt, blockage, displacement of the prosthesis, leakage of the prosthesis or the voice shunt, spontaneous occlusion when the prosthesis is accidentally removed and difficulties in replacing and cleaning the prosthesis. In an effort to avoid these problems, a substitute laryngeal tube (laryngoplasty) was fashioned from a revascularized forearm flap and connected to the trachea and pharynx in seven patients with extensive laryngohypopharyngeal carcinoma. All seven developed a voice comparable with patients fitted with a voice prosthesis. An advantage of this graft is the low phonation pressure required for voice production. Problems with aspiration have not occurred even after radiotherapy. While still in the hospital, five patients learned to speak without using their hands through the use of a tracheostomal valve. Judging by these results, this surgical procedure is a practical alternative to a voice prosthesis.     

Further experience with tracheojejunal shunt speech after pharyngolaryngoesophagectomy

Over the past 10 years, 16 patients have undergone the tracheojejunal shunt operation for voice reconstruction after undergoing pharyngolaryngoesophagectomy with free jejunum reconstruction for advanced hypopharyngeal cancer. For the purpose of voice reconstruction, a 2-cm inferiorly based tracheal flap is obtained from the membranous part of the trachea by removing 4 cartilaginous tracheal rings. After the establishment of digestive continuity with the jejunal graft, a side-to-side anastomosis is created by approximating the incised margin of the jejunal mucosa to that of the tracheal flap. The tracheal flap is tubed to construct the tracheojejunal shunt. In addition, the incised margin of the jejunal serosa is sutured to the lateral wall of the shunt to reinforce the approximation of the shunt to the jejunal graft. Thirteen of the 16 patients (81%) were initially capable of voice production. The length of time during which tracheojejunal speech has been used ranges from 18 to 122 months, with a mean of 55 months. During follow-up, 12 of the 13 patients (92%) have been able to swallow without aspiration.     

保留喉功能的下咽后壁癌的手术治疗

目的：探讨保留喉功能的下咽后壁癌手术治疗的可行性及相关技术方法。方法：对35例下咽后壁癌患者进行手术治疗,根据病变的具体情况,采用不同的肿瘤切除方式和多种方法进行组织缺损的修复。在彻底切除肿瘤的前提下,保留可利用的正常组织进行咽喉功能重建。行保留喉功能手术27例,未保留喉功能手术8例。术后根据需要行辅助放疗。结果：本组病例3年生存率为45．7％,5年生存率为28．6％。27例保留喉功能,其中喉功能全部恢复（发声、呼吸和吞咽保护）16例,占45．7％,喉功能部分恢复（发声、吞咽保护）11例,占31．4％。本组患者死于颈部淋巴结转移9例,肿瘤局部复发10例,肺部转移2例,颈部大出血1例,心脏病2例,原因不明1例。结论：保留喉功能的下咽后壁癌的手术治疗是可行的,熟练掌握肿瘤切除技术并根据需要合理选用咽喉功能重建方法是提高患者生活质量的重要保证。     

下咽癌喉癌术后广泛下咽及颈段食管缺损修复方法的比较

目的：探讨4种方法Ⅰ期修复下咽癌及晚期喉癌术后广泛下咽及颈段食管缺损的适应证及治疗效果。方法：用健侧喉黏膜瓣修复部分咽部缺损12例(伴颈段食管切除术2例)．胸大肌皮瓣修复部分咽部缺损6例，游离前臂皮瓣修复保留喉的部分下咽切除术2例．游离空肠重建全下咽和食管上段缺损1例。结果：术中无一例死亡，术后无修复组织坏死．全部组织瓣存活。采用健侧喉黏膜瓣修复者，仅1例术前放疗的患者术后发生咽漏；胸大肌皮瓣修复者，1例发生咽漏。全部病例愈合后均可进普通饮食。随访9～84个月，4例出现吞咽梗阻。结论：下咽癌缺损的修复方法各有侧重。肿瘤的部位和大小是选择修复方法最重要的因素；其次，也应仔细考虑减少并发症。     

Voice restoration by primary insertion of indwelling voice prosthesis following circumferential pharyngolaryngectomy with free jejunal graft

BACKGROUND: Voice restoration after circumferential pharyngolaryngectomy (CPL) with free jejunal graft remains a difficult problem to solve. Few reports have analyzed the success rate and complications following primary insertion of indwelling voice prostheses during CPL with free jejunal graft. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eight patients who underwent CPL with free jejunal graft had a Groningen voice prosthesis inserted as a tracheoesophageal (TE) shunt at the time of oncological surgery. A 10-point scale was used to assess each patient's speech intelligibility. Complications following the voice prosthesis insertion were also analyzed. RESULTS: Six of the eight patients (75%) achieved excellent speech intelligibility and the remaining two patients (25%) were judged as moderate. Six of the eight patients (75%) used the TE shunt as their major means of daily communication. Leakage through or around the prosthesis, which occurred in six (75%) patients, was the most frequent prosthesis-related complication. CONCLUSIONS: This safe and reliable technique can be effective in improving the quality of life in selected patients undergoing CPL.     

Functional long-term results following hemipharyngo-hemilaryngectomy and microvascular reconstruction using the radial forearm flap

BACKGROUND: The surgical treatment of advanced hypopharyngeal carcinomas with infiltration of the laryngeal skeleton often includes total laryngectomy for functional reasons, although tumor infiltration is limited to only one half of the larynx. When not only the infiltrated half of the thyroid cartilage but also the cricoid cartilage of the involved side has to be removed, in spite of adequate reconstruction using local or pedicled flaps (f. e. pectoralis major flap) persistent dysphagia and aspiration prevent oral food intake and closure of the tracheostoma. These functional disturbances are increased by the negative effects of postoperative radiotherapy, which has to be applied in most of the cases for oncological reasons. The routine use of free, microvascularly anastomosed flaps for reconstruction of defects following removal of extended carcinomas of the mouth, the tongue or the oropharynx as well as in total pharyngolaryngectomy led to considerable improvements in functional rehabilitation of swallowing and speech. An improved functional outcome is also reported following partial resections of the hypopharynx and reconstruction by means of these thin and pliable transplants (f. e. replacement of the entire posterior hypopharyngeal wall). METHOD: Since 1991 in 30 patients with a T3 or T4 squamous cell carcinoma of the piriform sinus a complete hemipharyngo-hemilaryngectomy including resection of the involved thyroid and cricoid cartilage was carried out. For reconstruction a radial forearm flap was dissected with two separate epithelial islands: The smaller island was used to create an epithelialized endolarynx, which allows complete closure of the glottis by the healthy vocal chord. With the bigger second island the hypopharynx was replaced, creating a highly mobile, adaptable neo-piriform-sinus, which was suspended to the ipsilateral half of the hyoid bone. Parts of the both islands were sutured together to create a new aryepiglottic fold. The laryngeal skeleton intentionally was not reconstructed. RESULTS: One year evaluation revealed 25 of the 30 patients swallowing normal diet and being decannulated. 4 patients could take up a soft diet, 1 patient with a severe stricture at the entrance to the esophagus however had to be laryngectomized for functional reasons. Most of the patients judged their postoperative voice as satisfactory, although there was a different impairment of the voice (quite normal up to a marked hoarseness). During follow-up (up to 10 years) 4 patients developed a local recurrence, in 3 cases a secondary metastasis after neck dissection occurred. In 3 patients a second primary was detected (oropharynx 2, esophagus 1), 3 patients died with lung metastases. CONCLUSION: Rehabilitation of normal swallowing and a satisfying voice restoration without a permanent tracheostoma following complete hemipharyngo-hemilaryngectomy can obviously be improved by the use of microvascular transplants (here radial forearm flap) in comparison to other surgical techniques. The necessary radical extirpation of these extended carcinomas also is guaranteed like in total laryngectomy, so that in spite of the advanced tumor stage an organ preserving surgery can be offered. A prolonged course of swallowing rehabilitation however has to be taken into consideration.     

Oropharyngeal reconstruction: current state of the art

Oropharyngeal reconstruction represents one of the greatest challenges in the surgical rehabilitation of patients with head and neck cancer. This article reviews several reconstruction methods, starting with the primary closure and healing by secondary intention all the way to the complex sensate microvascular flap reconstructions. Small defects such as tonsillar, small tongue base, and partial palatal defects may be closed primarily or left to granulate. This is assuming that there is no communication with the neck or bone exposure. Local flaps such as the palatal island, submental, and buccal mucosal flaps are used to close small to moderate-sized defects. Split-thickness skin grafts are also appropriate for small to moderate-sized defects. Larger defects such as total palatal, more than 50% of the tongue base, and composite tongue base/palatal/pharyngeal defects may be closed with regional myocutaneous pedicled flaps such as the pectoralis major, lower trapezius, or latissimus dorsi pedicled flaps. Microvascular tissue transfer is an excellent alternative for closure of moderate to large-sized defects. Free tissue transfer includes the radial forearm and the lateral arm free flaps. Both of these can have a sensory component. Free jejunal flaps are used for total or subtotal hypopharyngeal defects. Free gastro-omental flaps may be used for oropharyngeal and hypopharyngeal reconstruction as well. For defects involving bone, fibular flaps are an excellent option and can provide sensation. The scapular free flap may be used as well and offers the advantage of having two skin paddles (scapular and parascapular) for internal and external lining. Following a reconstructive ladder is extremely important in ensuring good function and, hence, improved quality of life.     

半侧舌根组织瓣在咽腔侧方缺损修复中的应用

目的 探讨下咽癌切除后应用半侧舌根组织瓣修复咽腔侧方缺损的效果。 方法 回顾性分析 2014年10月~2016年4月于山东大学齐鲁医院(青岛)行下咽癌切除并同期行半侧舌根组织瓣修补咽腔侧方缺损患者36例,其中梨状窝癌29例,下咽后壁癌7例,肿瘤均累及咽腔侧方。临床分期:Ⅱ期3例,Ⅲ期7例,ⅣA期25例,ⅣB期1例。统计并分析患者3年生存率、术后并发症发生率、咽喉功能恢复情况及喉功能保留率。 结果 所有患者肿瘤完整切除,病理示切缘阴性,均保留喉功能,吞咽、吞咽保护功能好(均于术后10~14 d拔除鼻饲管,顺利经口进食)。其中34例患者顺利拔除气管套管,气管套管拔除率94.4%。术后咽瘘发生1例,经短期换药后愈合,咽瘘发生率2.8%。36例患者3年生存率69.4%。 结论 半侧舌根组织瓣就近取材,操作简便,咽瘘发生率低,在咽腔侧方缺损修复中符合解剖及功能重建的要求。     

Tracheoesophageal fistula and pharyngoesophageal stenosis repair by double skin paddle radial forearm flap

Tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF) constitutes a rare, but serious complication in laryngectomized patients, usually occurring after radiotherapy. TEF may occur spontaneously or may be due to enlargement of the TEF created for placement of a voice prosthesis. Surgical treatment of TEF can be complex, especially in the presence of a concomitant pharyngoesophageal stenosis (PES), and is associated with a high failure rate. In this article, we describe the surgical reconstruction technique for TEF associated with PES using a double skin paddle fasciocutaneous radial forearm free flap. The key points of this technique consist of correct positioning of the 2 skin paddles in order to reconstruct the anterior pharyngoesophageal wall and posterior tracheal wall, as well as de-epidermization of the intermediate part of the flap, which is then placed in the tracheoesophageal space.