01-06-2014 | Head and Neck
Pharyngo-cutaneous fistula complicating laryngectomy in the chemo-radiotherapy organ-preservation epoch
Published in: European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology | Issue 6/2014
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Pharyngo-cutaneous fistula is a serious complication of laryngectomy, with a significant associated morbidity and mortality. The oncologic success of organ-preservation protocols with radiotherapy or chemo-radiotherapy for laryngeal carcinoma means laryngectomy is increasingly reserved for surgical salvage in the event of persistent or recurrent disease. A retrospective review of fistula incidence after laryngectomy in 171 patients in a UK tertiary referral centre over the last decade was conducted to identify trends in this complication in the epoch of non-surgical organ preservation. The overall fistula incidence following laryngectomy is 29.2 % (50/171). Fistula incidence following salvage total laryngectomy is significantly higher than after primary total laryngectomy [19/51 (37.3 %) vs. 8/47 (17.0 %), χ
2 = 5.02, p = 0.03]. There is no significant effect of prior treatment on fistula incidence following laryngo-pharyngectomy or pharyngo-laryngo-oesophagectomy [14/39 (35.9 %) vs. 9/27 (33.3 %), χ
2 = 0.05, p = 0.83]. Prophylactic vascularised tissue flaps to reinforce the pharyngeal suture line may reduce fistula incidence and fistula severity in salvage total laryngectomy.