Surgical closure of postlaryngectomy pharyngocutaneous fistula: a defect based approach

Surgical repair of postlaryngectomy pharyngocutaneous fistula (PCF) can be challenging. Although several studies describe separate reconstruction methods, only few address the variability in defect characteristics and hence flap selection. The current clinical study presents a retrospective review of 19 patients who underwent surgical repair of persistent PCFs, over a 4-year period in a tertiary referral institute by a single primary surgeon. All but one patient were men with a mean age of 61 ± 10 years. Nine patients had previous unsuccessful attempts for surgical closure. Previous neck irradiation was the most common comorbid condition encountered (52.6%), followed by low hemoglobin level (47.4%), hepatic disease (36.8%) and diabetes mellitus (31.6%). According to defect characteristics, six patients received a local cervical skin procedure, ten patients had reconstructions using the pectoralis major musculocutaneous flap and three patients required a radial forearm free flap repair. All PCFs were eventually successfully closed with no major complications. Patients were followed-up for an average of 19.7 months (range, 5–38 months). Acceptable oral swallowing results were achieved in all but one patient. In conclusion, successful results are achievable in difficult persistent PCF cases with a defect based reconstruction approach kept in mind.