Lee JC, Hsu WT, Yang CC, Chang SH. A fabricated forearm free flap with accompanying phonation tube for simultaneous reconstruction of a pharyngolaryngeal circumferential defect and voice loss: new surgical modification with functional phonation outcome.
Laryngoscope 2012;
123:344-9. [PMID:
23008119 DOI:
10.1002/lary.23631]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/09/2012] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Total pharyngolaryngectomy is potentially ablative surgery, resulting in compromise of some most basic functions of life, including speech and swallowing. Tracheoesophageal puncture is the gold standard for voice restoration. But it still has prosthesis-related problems.
OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS
We designed a uniquely customized radial forearm free flap (RFFF), which also incorporated a region for phonation tube (PT) creation, for the dual purpose of circumferential laryngopharyngeal defect reconstruction and voice production.
METHODS
From August 2005 to September 2010, there were 18 male patients with late-stage hypopharyngeal cancer (HPC) or laryngeal cancer (LC) who received one-stage reconstruction with the fabricated RFFF-accompanying PT after total pharyngolaryngectomy. We recorded the phonation outcome of phonation efficacy (PE) and maximal phonation time (MPT) postoperatively within 1 month and at least 1 year after surgery.
RESULTS
Nine patients suffered from HPC and the others suffered from LC. Twelve patients received concurrent chemoradiotherapy after surgery. The follow-up time was 12 to 56 months (mean 28.7 months). There was no significant variance in the PE (79.72%, SD=21.93% vs. 62.50%, SD=39.60%, respectively; p = 0.115) and MPT (2.58 seconds, SD=1.80 vs. 2.97 seconds, SD=3.96, respectively; p = 0.878) between the first and last follow-up points, even when the patients were grouped by radiotherapy status after surgery or by disease group.
CONCLUSIONS
The phonation outcome in our experience was satisfactory and it tolerated postoperative radiotherapy during at least the 12-month follow-up period.
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