title: [Pharyngocutaneous fistula following total laryngectomy].
abstract: Pharyngocutaneous fistula (PCF) is the most common complication after total laryngectomy.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To establish the incidence of this complication and to analyze the predisposing factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a cross-sectional study of a historical cohort including 94 patients who underwent total laryngectomy. The following aspects were correlated to the occurrence of PCF: gender, age, tumor site, TNM staging, type of neck dissection, previous radiation therapy, previous tracheotomy, and use of stapler for pharyngeal closure. The following were considered in PCF cases: the day into postoperative care when the fistula was diagnosed, duration of occurrence, and proposed treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty (21.3%) patients had PCF. The incidence of PCF was statistically higher in T4 tumors when compared to T2 and T3 neoplasms (p = 0.03). The other analyzed correlations were not statistically significant. However, 40.9% of the patients submitted to tracheostomy previously had fistulae, against 21.1% of the patients not submitted to this procedure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Advanced primary tumor staging is correlated with higher incidences of PCF.
authors.affiliation: Lusíada University Center in Santos, Rua Dr. Olinto Rodrigues Dantas, no. 343, Encruzilhada. Santos - SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Felipe Toyama
authors.initials: FT
authors.lastname: Aires
authors.forename: Rogério Aparecido
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Dedivitis
authors.forename: Mario Augusto Ferrari de
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Castro
authors.forename: Daniel Araki
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.forename: Claudio Roberto
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Cernea
authors.forename: Lenine Garcia
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Brandão
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000601:surgery; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D017577:Cutaneous Fistula / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005402:Fistula / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D007825:Laryngectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010608:Pharyngeal Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D012307:Risk Factors