Chabrillac E, Baudel L, Vergez S, Woisard V, Farenc JC, Morisseau M, Dupret-Bories A. Videofluoroscopic swallowing study to detect pharyngeal leak after total (pharyngo-) laryngectomy: Retrospective assessment of a single-institution protocol.
Head Neck 2024;
46:740-748. [PMID:
38168752 DOI:
10.1002/hed.27617]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2023] [Revised: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND
We aimed to assess the effectiveness of a single-institution protocol of videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) for the detection of pharyngeal leak (PL) and its usefulness to mitigate evolution into subsequent pharyngocutaneous fistula (PCF) after total (pharyngo-) laryngectomy (TL).
METHODS
This retrospective single-center study was conducted between February 2014 and December 2022. We included all patients who underwent TL and performed a VFSS between Day 7 and Day 14 postoperatively to detect a subclinical PL.
RESULTS
Two-hundred and forty-eight patients met the inclusion criteria. Among the 186 patients (75%) with a negative VFSS, 11 patients (5.9%) developed a secondary PCF after oral intake resumption (false negative of VFSS). Among the 62 patients (25%) with a positive VFSS, the occurrence of a PCF was avoided in 59.7% of cases.
CONCLUSION
This study showed a good effectiveness of VFSS in the detection of PL after TL, alongside a usefulness to mitigate evolution into subsequent PCF.
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