[Ileocolic free autograft in advanced cervical oncology]

In head and neck oncology, cancer of the hypopharynx and esophagus still proves difficult to interpret because all treatments give poor results. In order to improve the quality of life for these patients as quickly as possible, one-step reconstructive methods such as the gastric pull-up and free autografts of revascularized intestinal segments are increasingly being used. This work presents a method for a free autograft of the ileocolic segment. After cervical pharyngolaryngoesophagectomy, this method provides a continent aerodigestive carrefour, protected by the ileocolic valve. Three patients successfully underwent this procedure. Deglutition and phonation were recovered quite quickly: between 18 and 38 days. On the basis of the results and after further, more in-depth experience--including adequate follow-up and post-radiotherapy coloesophageal electromanometry to determine the presence and type of motor propulsion exerted by the distal esophagus--the authors conclude that this method is one of the most interesting options available for the surgical reconstruction of pharyngoesophageal circular defects.