[Repair of pharynx with acellular dermal matrix].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the clinical use of acellular dermal matrix (ADM) in the repair of pharynx.


METHODS
From June 2003 to December 2004, 18 cases of laryngopharyngeal carcinoma or oropharyngeal carcinoma accepted treatment of surgery. Four of them had the tumor in the place of posterior wall of laryngopharynx or oropharynx. In the operation, the tumor was resected and the function of larynx was reserved, reconstruction of the posterior wall of laryngopharynx or oropharynx was made with ADM. Three of them had normal function of vocal cords and the tumor was in the place of posterior wall of pharynx and lateral wall of piriform fossa. These patients accepted resection of the tumor and the larynx was reserved. ADM was sutured to the prevertebral fascia to repair the pharynx, reinforcement was made with sternocleidomastoid muscle then. The other 11 patients had the tumor in the pharynx and cervico-esophagus and the vocal cords were fixed. These cases accepted total resection of the larynx and laryngopharynx. ADM was sutured to the prevertebral fascia to repair the posterior wall of laryngopharynx, musculo-cutaneous flap of pectoralis major muscle was made to repair the anterior and lateral walls. All these 18 patients accepted radiotherapy after the operation, the dosage was 60-70 Gy.


RESULTS
Among all these 18 cases, no rejection of ADM or formation of pharynx fistula happened after the operation. The allograft became normal mucosa finally. Two patients had subcutaneous infection. After the treatment of dressing change and antibiotics, the wound healing was satisfying. All the 18 patients had resumption of oral diet finally but 3 of them had light mis-swallowing. Seven patients whose larynx were reserved had the trachea cannula pulled out The follow-up periods after the operation lasted 12 months to 30 months. The middle follow-up period was 19. 38 months. Neither rejection nor scar formation of the allograft happened. The follow-up of 11 patients lasted more than 18 months, 3 of them had relapse of tumor. After the second operation 1 patient was still alive and 2 patients died of distant metastasis.


CONCLUSIONS
ADM can be easily obtained. Its histocompatibility were perfect The operative procedure were easy to perform. The complications of donor part can be totally avoided. The combined use of ADM and musculo-cutaneous flap of pectoralis major muscle or other neck tissue was safe and effective in the reconstruction of pharynx.
Peng
Jie-ren
JR
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Second Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510120, China. pjrwcx@163.com
Cai
Xiang
X
Wang
Xin-tao
XT
Xu
Yao-dong
YD
Guan
Zhong
Z
Gong
Jian
J
Huang
Xiao-ming
XM
Zheng
Yi-qing
YQ
D000368:Aged; D020405:Dermis / Q000637:transplantation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009959:Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D010614:Pharynx / Q000601:surgery*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D013524:Surgical Flaps