Temporary management of selected pharyngocutaneous fistulas with a silicone septal button

Management of a pharyngocutaneous (PC) fistula following laryngopharyngectomy with or without neck dissection is a difficult problem, particularly in cases where repair cannot be accomplished in a reasonable period of time. Use of a silicone septal button is described in the temporary management of selected PC fistulas (i.e., fistula size not more than 1 cm). This technique has been used successfully to date in three patients whose salivary fistulas were located directly above their stomas. The silicone septal button worked as a useful temporary measure in preventing salivary spillage into the stoma und was well tolerated by the patients treated until definitive closure was possible.