Pharyngo-cutaneous fistulas after total laryngectomy: incidence, etiology and outcome analysis.
A retrospective study of 126 patients who underwent total laryngectomy during a 10-year period was carried out. The incidence of post-laryngectomy pharyngo-cutaneous fistula was 19%. Pre-operative radiotherapy appears to be a risk factor when surgery is performed within three months of completion of radiotherapy. Intra-operative blood transfusion is strongly associated with fistula development. Fistula formation has an important effect on patient morbidity and mortality post-operatively. It remains a relatively frequent complication following total laryngectomy and may be able to be reduced in incidence if surgery is delayed post radiotherapy and blood transfusion is avoided whenever possible.
Department of Otolaryngology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
M
M
Hier
M J
MJ
Black
G
G
Lafond
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005402:Fistula / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007825:Laryngectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010608:Pharyngeal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome