Evaluation of amylase levels in the neck drainage and serum for early diagnosis of the pharyngocutaneous fistula.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the value of amylase levels in neck drainage and serum for the diagnosis of pharyngocutaneous fistula in the early postoperative period.


METHODS
We conducted a prospective study in a tertiary referral setting. Thirty-two patients (31 males, 1 female; mean age 63; range 45 to 75 years) who had laryngectomy operation as the primary treatment were studied. Amylase levels in the neck drainage and serum were analyzed in the first three postoperative days. The results were compared between patients who developed pharyngocutaneous fistula and who did not.


RESULTS
Serum amylase levels were significantly higher in pharyngocutaneous fistula group, whereas amylase in the neck drainage was not diagnostic.


CONCLUSIONS
Serum amylase levels may be used in laryngectomy patients for the early diagnosis of pharyngocutaneous fistula.
Department of Otolaryngology, Medicine Faculty of Uludağ University, Bursa, Turkey. fikretkbb@yahoo.com
Fikret
F
Kasapoğlu
Omer Afşın
OA
Ozmen
Hakan
H
Coşkun
Levent
L
Erişen
Selçuk
S
Onart
D000368:Aged; D000681:Amylases / Q000378:metabolism*; D017577:Cutaneous Fistula / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000201:enzymology / Q000601:surgery*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004322:Drainage / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007825:Laryngectomy / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009333:Neck / Q000601:surgery; D010608:Pharyngeal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000201:enzymology / Q000601:surgery*
D000681:Amylases