Laser treatment of symptomatic anterior pharyngeal pouches after laryngectomy.
BACKGROUND. An anterior pharyngeal pouch is a common anatomic variation after total laryngectomy. The exact part the pouch has to play in postlaryngectomy swallowing disorders is unknown but might be bigger than expected.


METHODS
Nine patients with a symptomatic pouch were treated with CO2 laser and questioned about pre- and postoperative complaints.


RESULTS
Eight out of nine patients noticed an obvious improvement of their swallowing complaints after laser surgery.


CONCLUSIONS
Based on the results, it is concluded that CO2-laser treatment with division of the bar of tissue posterior to the pouch is seen as a safe and simple way to treat patients for symptoms that can be wrongly attributed to a total laryngectomy.
Pennings
R J
RJ
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
van den Hoogen
F J
FJ
Marres
H A
HA
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007825:Laryngectomy; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010614:Pharynx / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome