Post-laryngectomy pharyngo-cutaneous fistulae

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Surgical Oncology
• Head and Neck Surgery

Background:

• Total laryngectomy is a surgical procedure for advanced laryngeal cancer.
• Post-operative fistula formation is a known complication.
• Previous studies suggested various risk factors for fistula development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze fistula formation in a personal series of total laryngectomy cases.
• To identify significant factors related to post-operative fistula development.
• To determine effective strategies for reducing fistula complications.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of 66 total laryngectomy cases.
• Analysis of post-operative fistula incidence.
• Evaluation of potential contributing factors to fistula formation.

Main Results:

• The incidence of post-operative fistulae was 7.4%.
• No specific factors were significantly associated with fistula formation in this series.
• Operative technique and post-operative fluid drainage were deemed crucial.

Conclusions:

• Surgical technique is paramount in preventing fistulae after total laryngectomy.
• Effective post-operative drainage of fluid collections under flaps is essential.
• Minimizing fistula complications relies on meticulous surgical and post-operative care.