Results of gastric pull-up reconstruction for pharyngolaryngo-oesophagectomy in advanced head and neck cancer and cervical oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
To study long-term clinical swallowing function and survival outcome in head and neck and cervical oesophageal cancer patients who underwent pharyngolaryngo-oesophagectomy (PLE).


METHODS
The clinical data of 48 patients who were treated with PLE were analysed. All patients had advanced disease, so the construction required a transposed stomach. Body weight and clinical swallowing function were evaluated postoperatively. The swallowing function was assessed at an interview concerning food ingestion and regurgitation. The survival group was studied using a Kaplan-Meier survival curve.


RESULTS
Forty-one cases of hypopharyngeal cancer and four cases of cervical oesophageal cancer were studied. In three cases (6%), hypopharyngeal and thoracic oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma occurred together. Most cases had good-to-fair results. The average body weight gain was increased after surgery. There was one hospital death. The most common complications were pulmonary (4%). Median survival was 27 months.


CONCLUSIONS
A pharyngogastric anastomosis after PLE can be performed with low morbidity and good swallowing function.
Puttawibul
Puttisak
P
Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, Thailand. putpnu@hotmail.com
Pornpatanarak
Chuchart
C
Sangthong
Burapat
B
Boonpipattanapong
Teeranut
T
Peeravud
Sumet
S
Pruegsanusak
Kovit
K
Leelamanit
Vitoon
V
Sinkijcharoenchai
Wattana
W
D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000601:surgery*; D003679:Deglutition; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D016629:Esophagectomy; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007825:Laryngectomy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010611:Pharyngectomy; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D013270:Stomach / Q000601:surgery*; D015996:Survival Rate; D015430:Weight Gain