title: [Jejunal free flap for reconstruction of the hypopharynx].
abstract: Squamous cell carcinoma of the hypopharynx is an aggressive tumor with a bad prognosis. When the tumor is resected it is necessary to reconstruct the hypopharynx and the esophagus. Today, reconstruction with a jejunal free flap is considered to be the preferred option. We present a series of five patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the hypopharynx operated on at the Department of Otolaryngology in the Rabin Medical Center. All underwent total laryngopharyngectomy and reconstruction with a jejunal free flap. Three patients resumed total enteral nutrition about two weeks post surgery. One patient suffered from a pharyngocutaneous fistula and continued parenteral nutrition via a jejunostomy. One patient suffered from necrosis of the flap, which necessitated its resection. Despite the morbidity which follows surgery of the hypopharynx and despite the low cure rates, a successful reconstruction with jejunal free flap enables the resumption of oral nutrition and improvement in the patients quality of life.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Rabin Medical Center, Petach-Tikva.
authors.forename: Yael
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Oestreicher-Kedem
authors.forename: Dean
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ad-el
authors.forename: Eyal
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gore
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Feinmesser
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Spitzer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007012:Hypopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D007013:Hypopharynx / Q000601:surgery*; D007583:Jejunum / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D016896:Treatment Outcome