title: Reconstruction of circumferential oro- and hypopharyngeal defects with U-shaped pectoralis major myocutaneous flap.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a U-shaped pectoralis major myocutaneous flap (PMMF) to reconstruct a large circumferential defect involving the oro- and hypopharynx.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective case series.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twelve patients with advanced oro- and hypopharyngeal cancer (stage IV) underwent surgery resulting in a circumferential defect of pharyngoesophageal segment (PES). Those defects were reconstructed using a U-shaped PMMF. Four pharyngocutaneous fistulas were observed postoperatively and healed spontaneously within 3 to 7 weeks. Eight patients were able to resume a regular diet. A voice prosthesis was functional in 5 patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This preliminary study shows that this technique is a simple and effective method with acceptable morbidity rate and satisfactory functional results. We demonstrate that this procedure allows the reconstruction of large defects involving the oro- and hypopharynx in irradiated patients. This technique could be an interesting alternative for surgical teams suffering from the absence of a microsurgical team.
  
  
  METHODS
  C-4.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, CHU Saint-Pierre, Bruxelles, Belgium. sven.saussez@skynet.be
authors.forename: Sven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saussez
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cuno
authors.forename: Frédéric
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Urbain
authors.forename: Gilbert
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chantrain
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lequeux
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007012:Hypopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009959:Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013517:Otorhinolaryngologic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D016896:Treatment Outcome