UNASSIGNED: Pharyngocutaneous fistula (PCF) is a serious complication following total laryngectomy, significantly impacting patients\' quality of life and treatment costs. Management is complex, with potential for recurrence after surgical intervention.
METHODS: We present a case of PCF that developed following laryngectomy. Initial conservative treatment failed to resolve the fistula. A pectoralis major myofascial flap was then attempted, but the fistula recurred. Finally, autologous fat grafting was performed with excellent results.
UNASSIGNED: Conservative management should be the first-line approach for PCF, as most cases respond favorably. However, if the fistula persists, alternative methods should be explored to achieve optimal outcomes. Our case highlights the importance of not persisting with a failed approach. Autologous fat grafting offers a promising alternative with demonstrably positive outcomes.
CONCLUSIONS: Pharyngocutaneous fistula presents a significant challenge in post-laryngectomy care. Surgical repair can be complex with potential complications. Our case demonstrates the effectiveness of autologous fat grafting as a successful treatment modality.

BACKGROUND: Persistent complex defects and dysfunctions of the upper aerodigestive tract after tumor surgery represent a major challenge. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of an interdisciplinary approach using the free anterolateral thigh flap (ALT) as a reconstruction option in the upper aerodigestive tract.
METHODS: The retrospective study identified 5 patients with complex defects after laryngectomy/pharyngolaryngectomy (LE/PLE) and multiple revision surgeries between 2017 and 2023. The operations were performed by an interdisciplinary team from otolaryngology, plastic surgery, and visceral/thoracic surgery. The results of the microsurgical reconstruction were analyzed.
RESULTS: There was an average of six previous operations. The defects included tracheoesophageal fistulas, pharyngocutaneous fistulas, neopharyngeal stenosis, and combinations thereof. Successful reconstruction was achieved in 100% of patients using the ALT flap. In 2 patients, ALT flow-through flaps were used with an additional free jejunal interposition (JI) and in 3 patients split-ALT flaps were used. The major complication rate was 40% and the minor complication rate was 20%.
CONCLUSIONS: Complex defects of the upper aerodigestive tract with multiple previous operations can be successfully reconstructed. Because of its versatility, the ALT flap seems to be a very good option. Prerequisite for this is an interdisciplinary treatment approach with a critical assessment of patient- and disease-specific factors.
UNASSIGNED: HINTERGRUND: Persistierende komplexe Defekte und Funktionsstörungen des oberen Aerodigestivtrakts nach tumorchirurgischen Eingriffen stellen eine große Herausforderung dar. Ziel dieser Studie war es, die Wirksamkeit eines interdisziplinären Ansatzes mit der freien lateralen Oberschenkellappenplastik (ALT) als Rekonstruktionsoption im oberen Aerodigestivtrakt zu evaluieren.
METHODS: Die retrospektive Studie identifizierte zwischen 2017 und 2023 5 Patient*innen mit komplexen Defekten nach Laryngektomie (LE) und multiplen Revisionsoperationen. Die Operationen erfolgten durch ein interdisziplinäres Team aus HNO, Plastischer Chirurgie und Viszeral‑/Thoraxchirurgie. Die Ergebnisse der mikrochirurgischen Rekonstruktion wurden erfasst.
UNASSIGNED: Es lagen durchschnittlich 6 Voroperationen vor. Die Defekte umfassten tracheoösophageale Fisteln, pharyngokutane Fisteln, Neopharynxstenosen sowie deren Kombination. Eine erfolgreiche Rekonstruktion konnte in 100 % der Fälle durch den ALT-Lappen erreicht werden. In zwei Fällen wurden ALT-Durchflusslappen mit einem zusätzlichen Jejunuminterponat (JI) und in drei Fällen ein Split-ALT-Lappen durchgeführt. Die Major-Komplikationsrate lag bei 40 % und die Minor-Komplikationsrate bei 20 %.
UNASSIGNED: Komplexe Defekte des oberen Aerodigestivtrakts mit multiplen Voroperationen können erfolgreich rekonstruiert werden. Aufgrund seiner Vielseitigkeit scheint der ALT-Lappen eine sehr gute Option zu sein. Voraussetzung hierfür ist ein interdisziplinärer Behandlungsansatz mit einer kritischen Abwägung der patienten- und krankheitsspezifischen Faktoren.

UNASSIGNED: Pharyngocutaneous fistula (PCF), a major complication of total laryngectomy, is caused by pharyngeal repair failure.
UNASSIGNED: Assess the usefulness of endoscopic observation of the pharyngeal suture\'s healing process for the early detection of PCF development.
UNASSIGNED: Pharyngeal mucosal sutures were endoscopically observed postoperatively in patients who underwent total laryngectomy with primary closure.
UNASSIGNED: Postoperatively, a white coat adhered to the pharyngeal mucosal suture of all patients. In most cases, the white coat gradually receded, which was considered to be a normal healing process. Thickening of the white coat and/or dehiscence of surgical wound were interpreted as \'poor healing conditions\'. Three cases were judged to have developed poor healing conditions of the pharyngeal mucosal suture and one patient developed PCF. The other two patients did not develop PCF, possibly due to early detection of \'poor healing condition\' and conservative approach, such as discontinuation of oral intake.
UNASSIGNED: Postoperative poor healing conditions of the pharyngeal mucosal suture may be precursors to PCF development. Endoscopic observation enables early detection of these conditions and may enable the prevention of PCF.

OBJECTIVE: Pharyngocutaneous fistula (PCF) formation following open surgical treatment of hypopharyngeal cancer (HPC) is a common and troublesome complication. To date, the postoperative protocol of restarting oral intake is not clear, and vast discrepancies exist in the literature and among institutions. This study aimed to explore the impact of a postoperative protocol of restarting oral intake on PCF formation after open surgical treatment of primary HPC, and its impact on overall survival (OS) and swallowing function based on the functional outcome swallowing scale (FOSS).
METHODS: This was a prospective observational study of 42 patients who received open surgical treatment for primary HPC at Beijing Friendship Hospital between April 2019 and August 2021. This cohort included two groups: patients who restarted oral intake on the 10th postoperative day (Group 1), and those who started on the 20th (Group 2). The Chi-square test and Fisher\'s exact chi-squared test were used for comparing qualitative data among the groups.
RESULTS: Group 1 (n = 27) and Group 2 (n = 15) were comparable in clinical characteristics. PCF occurred in 7 (25.9%) patients in Group 1, while none occurred in Group 2 (P = 0.038). The 2-year OS of all 42 patients was 75.6%; 65.8% and 93.3% for Groups 1 and 2, respectively (P = 0.07). The swallowing function was satisfactory (FOSS Grades 0-III) for 19 (70.4%) patients in Group 1 and 15 (100%) patients in Group 2 (P = 0.035). Laryngeal preservation was achieved in 25 (59.5%) patients, while decannulation was successful in 22 (88.0%) patients.
CONCLUSIONS: Delayed oral feeding significantly reduces PCF after open surgical treatment of primary HPC, and improves the swallowing function outcome without jeopardizing the OS.

A 15-year-old girl presented with a 3-year-history of continuous outflow of saliva from a pharyngocutaneous fistula, located at 5 mm superior to her tracheal stoma. She was diagnosed with Miller-Dieker syndrome at birth. At 2 years of age, pediatric surgeons at our institution carried out laryngotracheal separation to prevent aspiration pneumonia. At the age of 12 years, she developed continuous saliva discharge from the fistula. We performed central-part laryngectomy and resection of the pharyngocutaneous fistula, which relieved her from the continuous saliva discharge. Central-part laryngectomy is less invasive and easier to perform than total laryngectomy. We hereby present a case and retrospective analysis of 12 patients, who underwent central-part laryngectomy.

UNASSIGNED: Necrotizing fasciitis is a fulminant infection that spreads along the fascial planes. It is a rare entity with potentially fatal outcomes. The head and neck involvement is infrequent, with primary source either odontogenic or pharyngeal infection by single or mixed bacterial flora. To our knowledge, synchronous cervical necrotizing fasciitis (CNF) and pharyngocutaneous fistula is rarely reported in pieces of literature.
METHODS: We present a 38-years-old female patient who presented with CNF and pharyngocutaneous fistula. Diabetes mellitus was accidentally discovered during the investigation. The patient was successfully treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics, serial surgical debridement sessions, wound irrigation, and multiple muscular and myocutaneous skin flaps.
UNASSIGNED: Rapid diagnosis, radical surgical debridement of all necrotic tissue, intravenous broad-spectrum antibiotics, and close monitoring of patients with CNF are crucial to avoid critical complications and better patient survival. Due to the poor healing process in the neck area, the pharyngocutaneous fistula should be repaired with good musculocutaneous flaps such as the pectoralis major myocutaneous flap. Meticulous suturing of the flap to the mucosa, reinforcement of the repair with muscle, and suturing of the skin without tension are essential to obtaining a successful outcome.
CONCLUSIONS: Synchronous CNF and pharyngocutaneous fistula are rare events. Initial diagnosis and serial surgical debridement, along with aggressive broad-spectrum antibiotics and adequate resuscitation with great attention to the poor healing process in the diabetic patients\' neck area, are critical for a beneficial result. In our case, the reconstruction was performed successfully using multiple muscular and skin flaps.

BACKGROUND: One of the most common complications following total laryngectomy is pharyngocutaneous fistula (PCF). Various methods have been proposed to treat this disorder in recent studies, including a range of simple and conservative treatments to more aggressive therapies, such as various surgical procedures. One of the most innovative and least developed methods is the use of plasma-rich compounds, such as fibrin glue.
METHODS: The patient was a 55-year-old woman with a transglottic squamous cell carcinoma of the T3N0M0 stage and PCF development following total laryngectomy surgery with total thyroidectomy and bilateral elective cervical lymph node dissection level I-IV. In spite of conservative treatment, the fistula was not recovered after 3 weeks. It was decided to perform fibrin glue injection into the fistula tract via the endoscopic approach. One month after the fibrin glue injection, no evidence of contrast extravasation was observed on barium swallow test, and the fistula was completely closed.
CONCLUSIONS: No PCF has been treated with fibrin glue using only the endoscopic technique. The present study showed that fibrin glue can be used as an effective way to treat chronic fistulas in head and neck surgeries.

BACKGROUND: Total laryngectomy (TL) is a well-established procedure for laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancers. There is an increasing number of TLs done after organ preservation strategies.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to report 30-day morbidity and survival outcomes in patients undergoing TL at a tertiary referral center.
METHODS: This was a retrospective review of a prospective database of TL patients operated during 2012-2013.
METHODS: Patient demographics and other data were captured from the database. Surgical complications were graded as per Clavien-Dindo grading system and were also divided into major and minor as per predecided criteria. Recurrence and survival data were computed using Kaplan-Meier survival curves.
RESULTS: A total of 169 patients underwent TL during the study period. About 34% of the patients had received prior radiation therapy. Around 18% of the patients had major complications with a pharyngocutaneous fistula rate of 22.4%. Ninety percent of these were managed conservatively. Though used in a small subset, microvascular reconstruction had the least complication rates. The 3-year disease-free survival and overall survival were 66% and 72%, respectively. There was no difference in survival between per primum and salvage surgery cohorts.
CONCLUSIONS: TL is a safe and oncologically sound procedure in patients with laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancers. A large proportion of patients still undergo TL as a de novo procedure. This denotes that patients still present with locally advanced cancers which are not amenable to organ preservation.

BACKGROUND: Submandibular gland excision is the gold standard treatment for submandibular gland disease. Although submandibulectomy is a relatively standardized surgical procedure, complications are frequently reported. These complications include nerve paralysis or paresis, aesthetic sequelae, hematoma, salivary fistulas or sialoceles, wound infections, hypertrophic scars and inflammations caused by residual lithiasis in the salivary duct.
METHODS: We report a case of a rare complication of submandibular gland excision, pharyngocutaneous fistula, which appeared 6 years after previous surgery. The patient underwent surgery, during which a fistula tract from the skin to the pharynx was found and excised.
CONCLUSIONS: The authors believe that inappropriate execution of the surgical procedure could result in postoperative complications.