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Updated: Jul 5, 2026
An Ivor Lewis Esophagectomy Designed to Minimize Anastomotic Complications and Optimize Conduit Function
Published on: April 17, 2020
Fistula and stenosis after 135 (pharyngo)laryngectomies
D Dequanter1, Ph Lothaire, P Philippart
1Department of Surgery, Institut Jules Bordet, Centre des Tumeurs de l'Université Libre de Bruxelles, Bruxelles, Belgium. didier.dequanter@chu-charleroi.be
Background:
Despite progress made with reconstruction, morbidity is still elevated after (pharyngo)laryngectomy. The present study was designed to determine the incidence and predisposing factors of the complications following (pharyngo)laryngectomy.
Methods:
Primary surgical treatment was delivered in 60 patients. Seventy-five patients underwent surgical salvage following radiotherapy. Different factors were evaluated as potentially predisposing to fistula formation.
Results:
Stenosis is rare: 5.1% in the present series. A pharyngocutaneous fistula developed in 48.8% of patients. After a multivariate analysis, the site of the tumour was defined as a significant risk factor for pharyngocutaneous fistula formation.
Conclusions:
Despite progress made with reconstruction, morbidity is still elevated after major resection of the phary golarynx. Stenosis, a frequent complication when partial pharyngectomy is needed, is rare: 5.1% in the present series. Fistulas are relatively frequent but the majority resolved either with local irrigation or with subsequent flaps. The site of the tumour was a significant risk factor for pharyngocutaneous fistula formation, as defined by a multivariate analysis.
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