Pharyngeal closure after pharyngolaryngectomy

Pharyngolaryngectomy was performed in 53 patients. In 36 patients pharynx defect was less than 50% of pharynx circumference and it was closed without reconstruction. Larger pharynx defects were closed using platysma myocutaneous flap (13 cases), pectoralis mayor flap (3 cases) and free forearm flap with microvascular anastomosis (1 case). Healing results are presented in each group of patients.     

Pharyngoesophageal reconstruction. Is a skin-lined pharynx necessary?

Current methods of pharyngoesophageal reconstruction have in common the creation of an epithelial lined pharynx. We performed eight cases of pharyngoesophageal reconstruction with a pectoralis major muscle flap. In the first six cases, split-thickness skin was quilted onto the muscle. In the last two cases, pectoralis major muscle alone was used, allowing epithelialization to occur from adjacent mucosa. The results with this simplified technique have been as good as when a skin-grafted muscle flap was used. We prefer a pectoralis major muscle flap, with or without split-thickness skin, to a pectoralis myocutaneous flap. There is no hair growth, it is easy to tube, and a thin-walled pharynx is produced. This is an advantage for the development of an esophageal voice, and tracheoesophageal puncture can be easily performed if no voice is achieved. All of our patients received full-dose, preoperative radiotherapy. One patient developed a fistula that closed spontaneously. There have been no strictures at the pharyngoesophageal junction. All patients quickly established a good oral intake.     

颈段食管癌手术喉功能保留问题的探讨

目的:探讨颈段食管癌手术喉功能保留的适应证和咽食管重建方法, 以及胃咽吻合术误吸并发症的原因和防治措施.方法:9例保留喉功能的颈段食管癌手术患者,其中单纯颈段食管癌2例,颈段食管癌侵犯下咽部6例,颈胸段食管重复癌1例.喉功能保留:全部喉功能保留8例,部分喉功能保留1例.下咽-食管重建:胃咽吻合7例,游离前臂皮瓣1例, 胸大肌皮瓣1例.结果:喉功能恢复良好4例,中等2例,差3例.胃咽吻合术7例均发生不同程度的胃液反流、咳嗽反射暂时性消失和误吸,5例发生声带麻痹;吻合口越高,误吸程度越重.游离前臂皮瓣移植术1例死于大出血.胸大肌皮瓣转移术1例虽能恢复良好的喉功能,但6个月后发生吻合口狭窄.结论:单纯颈段食管癌和颈段食管癌向上侵犯下咽部1 cm以内的患者适宜行全部喉功能保留手术;而颈段食管癌向上侵犯下咽部部1 cm以上的高龄患者不宜行全部喉功能保留手术,可行部分喉功能保留手术或不保留喉功能手术.胃咽吻合术误吸并发症的发生与咽-食管吞咽功能障碍和喉防误吸功能障碍密切相关.     

Immediate reconstruction after total laryngopharyngoesophagectomy and mediastinal dissection

Advanced or recurrent carcinoma surrounding the tracheostoma in a previously laryngectomized patient is most effectively treated with transsternal radical dissection of the upper mediastinum and relocation of the trachea to the upper chest. The use of the pectoralis major myocutaneous flap, now enables the head and neck surgeon to perform immediate reconstruction and provide protection for the great vessels after mediastinal dissection for stomal recurrence. Formerly, patients with stomal recurrence also involving the cervical or upper thoracic esophagus were poor surgical candidates. Frequently, patients succumbed to their disease before the continuity of the digestive tract could be re-established. Currently, at our institution, this vexing reconstructive problem is solved with immediate, one-stage reconstruction. The esophagus is replaced by transposing the stomach through the posterior mediastinum and anastomosing to the tongue base, "gastric pull-up." The mediastinal defect is closed with the concomitant use of the pectoralis myocutaneous flap. The muscular portion of the myocutaneous flap provides excellent coverage for the great vessels of the upper mediastinum. Our experience with 39 patients who underwent this procedure between 1979 and 1983 is presented.     

The usefulness of a pectoralis major myocutaneous flap in preventing salivary fistulae after salvage total laryngectomy

Salvage laryngectomy in patients treated with organ preservation protocols is associated with high rates of postoperative complications. The use of non-irradiated tissue flaps in pharyngeal reconstruction could reduce the incidence of these complications.Objective: This study aims to evaluate the usefulness of the pectoralis major myocutaneous flap in preventing salivary fistulae during the postoperative period of salvage total laryngectomy (TL).Materials and Method: This retrospective study enrolled 31 patients operated between April of 2006 and May of 2011. All patients had advanced cancer at the time of the salvage procedure and had been treated with chemoradiotherapy or radiotherapy alone. Pharyngeal reconstruction was performed using pectoralis major myocutaneous flap in 19 cases (61%); primary wound closure occurred in 12 patients (39%).Results: Salivary fistulae occurred in 16% of the patients who received the flap and in 58% of the patients with primary closure of the pharynx (p < 0.02). No statistically significant differences were noted between the groups with respect to the mean time for fistula formation, reintroduction of an oral diet, or use of a nasoenteric tube for feeding.Conclusion: The pectoralis major myocutaneous flap was found to reduce the incidence of salivary fistulae in salvage laryngectomy procedures.     

Reconstruction of the laryngopharynx and cervical esophagus

The historical evolution of reconstruction of the cervical esophagus and laryngopharynx over the past 100 years is documented. The impact of these technical achievements is contrasted to the failure to improve the 5-year survival rate of 24%. While the clinician awaits new protocols of treatment to improve survival statistics, the thrust of the surgical oncologist is to develop a reliable method of reconstruction which meets specific minimal criteria. The following objectives should be achieved: Reconstruction should not limit the effectiveness of the ablative technique. Short hospitalization and one stage techniques are superior. Technique mortality and morbidity must be low. A 10-year institutional study using the Montgomery 2-stage technique is presented. In contrast, comparative literature data analysis of all methods of laryngopharyngocervical reconstruction indicates that single stage techniques offer a greater advantage. This study suggests that visceroplasty (stomach), free jejunal transfer, and single stage reconstruction, using the pectoralis myocutaneous flap, approach the previously established criteria more effectively than others. A new technique (1-stage), using partial tubulation of the pectoralis major myocutaneous flap, is recommended for regional reconstruction of the cervical esophagus and pharynx. In order to decrease the pressure and torsion on the vascular pedicle of the pectoralis major myocutaneous flap and increase its predicted length, partial resection of the ipsilateral clavicle is proposed.     

The pectoralis myocutaneous flap for salvage of necrotic wounds

The authors have utilized six pectoralis major myocutaneous flaps in attempts to salvage extensive necrotic wounds of the pharynx and neck. The flap was employed in the following situations: massive necrosis of the entire neck skin with both carotid artery systems exposed, radiation necrosis of the neck skin with exposure of carotid artery, dehiscence of gastric pull-up from pharynx with resultant carotid exposure, failed trapezius flap in a radionecrotic oral cavity, and two cases of pharyngocutaneous fistula with extensive soft tissue necrosis. These flaps achieved healing in all cases. One death occurred 3 weeks following complete cutaneous healing secondary to a ruptured carotid pseudoaneurysm. One flap underwent total skin loss but the entirety of the muscle survived and the fistula was successfully closed with the back of the muscle being subsequently skin grafted. One case of dehiscence of the flap from oral mucosa resulted in a minor exposure of mandible with limited osteoradionecrosis controlled by topical means. This flap has performed extremely well in these precarious and difficult situations that previously may not have been salvageable. It has also been effective in abbreviating the required hospitalization and wound care. We conclude that the pectoralis myocutaneous flap should be the primary choice for the management of extensive postsurgical wound necrosis.     

Immediate pharyngoesophageal reconstruction. Use of a quilted skin-grafted pectoralis major muscle flap

Pharyngoesophageal reconstruction continues to be a problem in the management of cancer involving the hypopharynx. In our experience, the use of deltopectoral and pectoralis major myocutaneous flaps for total reconstruction has been disappointing. We report four cases of immediate near-total reconstruction using a quilted , skin-grafted pectoralis major muscle flap. All cases had received full dosage preoperative irradiation. A thin-walled pharynx was created that has allowed early development of a good esophageal voice. There has been no stricture formation. All patients have experienced no difficulty in establishing a good oral intake.     

Two modifications of pectoralis major myocutaneous flap (PMMF)

Pectoralis major myocutaneous flap is the most commonly used versatile flap in head and neck reconstructive surgery. The use of entirely tubed pectoralis major myocutaneous flap for reconstruction of the hypopharynx following total laryngectomy and total pharyngectomy has a disadvantage of bulkiness of the flap and poor postoperative deglutition. One-stage reconstruction of the entire hypopharynx utilizing a combination of pectoralis major myocutaneous flap and dermal graft minimizes bulkiness, thus achieving satisfactory to excellent functional results. The operation has been performed on four patients with excellent deglutition. The pectoralis major myocutaneous flap is utilized to reconstruct the anterior and lateral walls of the hypopharynx, the dermal graft for the posterior wall as far superior as the vault of the nasopharynx. The operative procedure is described. Pectoralis major myocutaneous flap usually provides enough length to reach the distant site of the surgical defect. On occasion, however, additional length is desirable to avoid tension along the suture line. This becomes apparent when a random portion of elevated pectoralis major myocutaneous flap presents questionable viability which may require further trimming. Resection of the medial half of the clavicle can provide additional length of this flap by 2 cm to 2.5 cm.     

Free radial forearm flap versus pectoralis major myocutaneous flap reconstruction of oral and oropharyngeal defects: a cost analysis

Objectives: The free radial forearm flap has replaced the pedicled pectoralis major myocutaneous flap and it has become the ‘workhorse flap’ used by many head and neck reconstructive surgeons for soft tissue reconstructions. Cost implications of radial forearm flap reconstruction within the context of the overall health care in a particular system need to be investigated particularly before it is labelled as ‘costly only’. Design and Setting: Forty patients who underwent immediate free radial forearm flap reconstruction for oral or oropharyngeal soft tissue defects were matched with patients who underwent pectoralis major myocutaneous flap reconstruction for similar defects. The 2 years of which the overall management costs according to the hospital perspective were calculated were divided into four periods: operative period, the postoperative phase, follow‐up during first year and follow‐up during second year after discharge. Results: The total costs within the first 2 years were comparable at ∼50 000 euros. The lower costs of hospital admission (24 days versus 28 days; P = 0.005) in the postoperative phase outweighed the higher costs of the surgical procedure (692 min versus 462 min; P < 0.005) in radial forearm flap patients when compared with pectoralis major flap patients. Conclusions: Oral and oropharyngeal reconstruction with radial forearm flap is not more costly than pectoralis major flap reconstruction. Given the better functional outcome and the present cost analysis, reconstruction of oral and oropharyngeal defects is preferably performed using free tissue transfer.     

Delayed failure of myocutaneous flaps in head and neck reconstruction

Since the concept of myocutaneous flap reconstruction of the head and neck region was introduced it has opened a new approach to surgical management in this area. This flap not only reduced the number of operations as compared to "staged procedure", but also reduced the costs of medical care. We are, however, experiencing significant failures as the applications of this flap are extended. This paper reviews our experience with myocutaneous flaps in 15 partial and total failures. An evaluation of these failures reveals that most occurred 1 1/2 to 3 weeks after reconstruction. The factors predisposing to failure seem related more to technical errors rather than to general factors. Diabetes, peripheral vascular disease, malnutrition and low hemoglobin, and low blood pressure were not major contributors to the failures in our series. Local factors predisposing to failure of myocutaneous flaps can be divided into two large categories--arterial failure and venous failure. In our series of unsuccessful myocutaneous flaps, the major factors appeared to be venous stasis leading to arterial insufficiency. All failures had developed after the initial critical period of flap survival (7-10 days). The following techniques showed an especially high rate of failure: 1. SCM--myocutaneous flap to resurface floor of mouth. 2. Tubed pectoralis myocutaneous flap to reconstruct pharynx and esophagus. 3. Flaps developed with very narrow vascular pedicles. Individual cases representing delayed failure are presented.     

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。     

喉全切除后气管造瘘口复发癌缺损外科修复比较

目的探索喉全切除后气管造瘘口复发癌缺损外科修复的治疗效果。方法对18例喉全切除后气管造瘘口复发癌实施外科治疗。其中Ⅰ型7例,颈部单纯切口,胸大肌肌皮瓣修复颈部皮肤气管造瘘口缺损;Ⅱ型6例,颈肢或胸联合切口,前臂皮瓣或胸大肌肌皮瓣(游离前臂皮瓣5例,胸大肌肌皮瓣1例)修复部分喉咽切除;Ⅲ型3例,颈腹联合切口,游离空肠修复全喉咽、颈段食管;Ⅳ型2例,颈胸腹联合切口,胃上拉修复全喉咽、全食管。Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ型的颈部皮肤气管造瘘口缺损均用胸大肌肌皮瓣修复。结果颈部缺损胸大肌肌皮瓣均成活;咽瘘4例(其中游离空肠1例,前臂皮瓣2例,胃上拉咽瘘出血1例);全部病例术后均能进食;随访6～74个月,3例出现不同程度吞咽梗阻。结论喉全切除后气管造瘘口复发癌外科治疗缺损,修复选择应根据原发肿瘤治疗的经过及气管造瘘口复发癌侵及范围来确定修复方法。     

Pectoralis major myocutaneous flap reconstruction of the laryngopharynx and cervical esophagus

Advanced carcinoma of the hypopharynx and cervical esophagus is a formidable challenge to the skills of the head and neck surgeon. Radiation therapy is valuable as adjunctive therapy when combined with curative surgery, which is the primary treatment modality. The extent of anatomical disease associated with extensive neoplasia of the hypopharynx and cervical esophagus is frequently not amenable to total laryngectomy with local tissue repair. Surgical ablation usually requires an extended laryngectomy, which does not permit primary local repair. A previous report by this author, comparing all techniques historically and chronologically, indicated that the present impetus is toward procedures characterized by a one-stage primary repair with shorter completion times. Presently, the three most promising procedures that meet these criteria are the gastric transposition, free microvascular bowel transfer, and regional myocutaneous flap repair. Theogaraj, et al. reported the use of a partially tubulated pectoralis muscle flap over preserved posterior wall cervical esophageal mucosa in cases of short segment stenosis. Encouraged by these results, a technique using partial tubulation for long-segment stenosis was reported. The use of this technique was expanded to include the repair of the defect left after total ablation of the laryngopharynx and cervical esophagus. Over the past 40 months, 22 patients have undergone repair using partial tubulation of the pectoralis myocutaneous flap. This paper will discuss the technical aspects of the procedure and analyze the procedure as it relates to mortality, morbidity, and completion time. Low morbidity and a completion time of 18 days competes favorably with gastric transposition and free jejunal transfer. A rational approach to reconstruction using all procedures will be discussed.     

Montgomery salivary bypass tube in the reconstruction of the hypopharynx. Cost-benefit study.

This study analyzes the postoperative complications and the functional results in 61 patients who underwent total laryngectomy with partial or total (circumferential) pharyngectomy reconstructed with a pectoralis major myocutaneous flap, in relation to the use of the Montgomery Salivary Bypass Tube (MSBPT). There were no significant differences regarding frequency of postoperative cervical complications in relation to the use of the MSBPT. The median hospital stay for patients without the MSBPT (36 days) was significantly higher than that for patients with the MSBPT (25 days). Although the MSBPT did not modify the rate of complications at the cervical level, it did reduce their severity. A financial study showed the cost-effectiveness of using the MSBPT. Systematic use of the MSBPT is recommended after total laryngectomy with partial or total pharyngectomy reconstructed with a pectoralis major myocutaneous flap.     

Safe reconstruction of a large cervico-mediastinal tracheal defect with a pectoralis major myocutaneous flap and free costal cartilage grafts

A large cervico-mediastinal tracheal defect in a 72-year-old man as a result of surgery for thyroid carcinoma with tracheal invasion and mediastinal lymph node metastasis was reconstructed using a pectoralis major myocutaneous flap and free costal cartilage grafts. The tracheal defect (55 mm x 30 mm) was located at the thoracic inlet adjacent to the major mediastinal vessels. Our reconstructive procedure was a two-staged surgery. In the first stage, a pectoralis major myocutaneous flap was transferred to the neck to provide a well-vascularized recipient bed for free costal cartilage grafts and to cover large vessels. Two pieces of free costal cartilage were grafted on the pectoralis major myocutaneous flap, one for the lateral wall reconstruction and the other prefabricated for the anterior wall of the trachea. In the second stage, the re-vascularized cartilage graft for the anterior wall of the trachea with overlying skin was rotated onto the trough of the remaining trachea and the closure of the tracheal defect was completed. We conclude that free cartilage grafts for the reconstruction of a large cervico-mediastinal tracheal defect can be safely used when they are combined with well-vascularized pectoralis major myocutaneous flaps.     

Neurotization of pectoralis major myocutaneous flap by the hypoglossal nerve in tongue reconstruction: clinical and experimental observations

Recently, neurotization has been proposed for providing mobility to the pectoralis major, or other myocutaneous flap in lingual reconstruction following total glossectomy. The development of an active tongue-like structure may offer the patient higher potential for rehabilitation of speech and deglutition. The purpose of this thesis is to report experimental and clinical observations on neurotization of the pectoralis major myocutaneous flap. The pectoralis major myoflap of 16 rats was reinnervated by either a hypoglossal nerve pedicle of hypoglossal-genioglossus muscle neuromuscular pedicle. Functional flap reinnervation was confirmed in eight of the 16 animals. The author's clinical experience with reconstruction of the tongue utilizing neurotized pectoralis major myocutaneous flap is presented.     

Reconstructive options for pharyngeal and/or cervical esophageal defects

Reconstruction of the pharynx and or cervical esophagus continues to represent a formidable challenge for the head and neck oncologic surgeon. An analysis was made of 40 patients undergoing pharyngeal and/or esophageal reconstruction. The majority of these reconstructions were sometimes used in combination with skin grafts and even regional skin flaps. Those patients undergoing complete pharyngeal-esophageal reconstruction using a myocutaneous flap with soft Silastic stenting will be discussed as to the potential value of this technique. This article addresses the author's preference for particular reconstructive techniques (ie, skin graft v flap) as it relates to anatomic areas in the pharynx and esophagus. The study concludes that the myocutaneous flaps can be effectively and successfully used for the one-stage reconstruction of subtotal pharyngeal-esophageal defects. However, the reconstruction of total pharyngeal-esophageal defects continues to be a problem area, with only moderate success achieved with the techniques described.     

The pectoralis major myofascial flap for intraoral and pharyngeal reconstruction.

The pectoralis myocutaneous flap has been widely used for reconstruction of oral cavity and pharyngeal defects. However, it has several disadvantages, such as chest distortion, hair growth at the reconstructed site, and excessive bulk, all of which can be avoided by the use of the pectoralis myofascial flap. Oral cavities and pharyngeal defects, ranging in size from 4 to 9 cm in largest' dimension, in 26 patients were reconstructed with the pectoralis myofascial flap. All but three defects were successfully reconstructed. The surface of the flap was covered by squamous epithelium in 1 month. The flap remained healthy during and after radiotherapy. The pectoralis myofascial flap is ideal for soft-tissue coverage of small- to medium-size oral cavity and pharyngeal defects. Its major advantages over the pectoralis myocutaneous flap are decreased bulk and improved cosmesis.     

脱细胞真皮基质黏膜组织补片在咽部修复中的应用

目的 探讨脱细胞真皮基质黏膜组织补片（acellular dermal matrix，ADM）在咽部的修复作用。方法 2003年6月—2004年12月对18例患者行口咽、喉咽癌切除术，其中4例肿瘤原发于口咽和喉咽后壁，保留喉功能切除肿瘤，用ADM重建口咽和喉咽后壁；3例肿瘤原发一侧梨状窝侧壁和咽后壁，声带活动正常的，保留喉功能行咽后壁或侧壁切除术，将ADM缝在椎前筋膜和咽侧壁上关闭咽腔，用保留的胸锁乳突肌加固；对11例肿瘤累及颈段食管，声带活动受限及固定者，行喉全切除或喉咽全切除术，将ADM缝在椎前筋膜上重建喉咽后壁，用胸大肌肌皮瓣重建喉咽前壁和侧壁，重建密闭腔道。术后全部患者进行放射治疗，放疗剂量60～70Gy。结果 18例患者术后未发生排异反应，无咽瘘，创面均黏膜化。2例患者切口皮下感染，经换药后伤口愈合。所有患者均可经口进食。7例保留喉的患者恢复了喉功能，拔除气管套管，但其中3例进食流质时有轻度误咽。术后随访12～30个月，中位随访时间为19．38个月，补片移植区无排异反应、瘢痕和挛缩。随访18月以上11例，其中3例肿瘤复发，1例再次手术后健在，2例死于全身转移。结论 ADM来源方便，组织相容性好，厚薄适宜，手术操作简便，可联合胸大肌肌皮瓣或其他颈部组织修复咽部环周缺损，是一种新的安全有效的修复材料。