title: Successful closure of pharyngo-cutaneous and phayryngo-tracheal fistulas using removable hypopharyngeal stent after laryngectomy for laryngeal carcinoma.
abstract: Placement of removable stents to close pharyngo-cutaneous and tracheo-pharyngeal fistulas after laryngectomy has not been reported before. This case presents the feasibility of removable esophageal stent in closing pharyngo-cutaneous and tracheo-pharyngeal fistulas after laryngectomy for laryngeal cancer. Consecutive patients who underwent placement of removable esophageal stent for closing pharyngo-cutaneous and tracheo-pharyngeal fistulas after laryngectomy for laryngeal cancer. Three patients underwent successful stent placement in the hypopharynx. The stents were well tolerated. Patient one had the stent for 14 months, leading to complete healing of the fistula. Removal was successful. The second patient was palliated but died 8 weeks after stent placement. The third patient has successful palliation of his tracheo-esophageal fistula and the stent is being exchanged every 3-4 months to palliate his fistula. Closure of pharyngo-cutaneous and tracheo-esophageal fistulas is feasible with esophageal removable stents. These stents provide alternative options when dealing with these challenging problems.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Head and Neck Surgery, the University of Alabama in Birmingham, AL, USA. me75@aub.edu.lb
authors.forename: Mohamad A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Eloubeidi
authors.forename: Desiree E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.forename: William R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Carroll
authors.forename: Lawrence F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Johnson
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D020878:Device Removal; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D007825:Laryngectomy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D037981:Neck Dissection; D010166:Palliative Care; D010608:Pharyngeal Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D016156:Respiratory Tract Fistula / Q000601:surgery*; D015607:Stents; D014133:Tracheal Diseases / Q000601:surgery*