Negative-pressure wound therapy for the treatment of pharyngocutaneous fistula

IntroductionPharyngocutaneous fistula is a well-known complication of head and neck cancer surgery. The purpose of this study was to determine the value of negative-pressure wound therapy (NPWT) for the treatment of these fistulas. NPWT is used in many fields of medicine, but its use in otorhinolaryngology has been rarely reported. NPWT is a cost-effective means to accelerate wound healing.Patients and methodsA single-centre retrospective study was conducted on 7 patients with pharyngocutaneous fistula following surgery for squamous cell carcinoma between January 2011 and April 2013. These fistulas were treated by negative-pressure wound therapy (NPWT).ResultsThis series comprised seven male patients with a mean age of 65 years and 9 months. The mean duration of treatment was 23 days (range: 11 to 42 days). Two patients had a history of radiotherapy for pharyngolaryngeal cancer. Negative-pressure wound therapy achieved cure of the fistula in all patients with satisfactory acceptability. Mean follow-up was 10 months (range: 6 months to 2 years).ConclusionNegative-pressure wound therapy represents a valuable treatment option in certain settings for the management of pharyngocutaneous fistula following head and neck cancer surgery.