title: Negative-pressure wound therapy for the treatment of  pharyngocutaneous fistula.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pharyngocutaneous fistula is a well-known complication of head and neck cancer surgery.The purpose of this study was to determine the value of negative-pressure wound therapy (NPWT) for the treatment of these fistulas. NPWT is used in many fields of medicine, but its use in otorhinolaryngology has been rarely reported. NPWT is a cost-effective means to accelerate wound healing.
  
  
  METHODS
  A single-centre retrospective study was conducted on 7 patients with pharyngo-cutaneous fistula following surgery for squamous cell carcinoma between January 2011 and April 2013.These fistulas were treated by negative-pressure wound therapy (NPWT).
  
  
  RESULTS
  This series comprised seven male patients with a mean age of 65 years and 9 months. The mean duration of treatment was 23 days (range: 11 to 42 days). Two patients had a history of radiotherapy for pharyngolaryngeal cancer. Negative-pressure wound therapy achieved cure of the fistula in all patients with satisfactory acceptability. Mean follow-up was 10 months (range: 6 months to 2 years).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Negative-pressure wound therapy represents a valuable treatment option in certain settings for the management of pharyngocutaneous fistula following head and neck cancer surgery.
authors.affiliation: Service ORL-CCF, hôpital d'instruction des armées Clermont-Tonnerre, rue Colonel-Fontferrier, CC 41, 29241 Brest, France. Electronic address: emilye.loaec@gmail.com.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Loaec
authors.affiliation: Service ORL-CCF, hôpital d'instruction des armées Clermont-Tonnerre, rue Colonel-Fontferrier, CC 41, 29241 Brest, France.
authors.forename: P-Y
authors.initials: PY
authors.lastname: Vaillant
authors.affiliation: Service ORL-CCF, hôpital d'instruction des armées Clermont-Tonnerre, rue Colonel-Fontferrier, CC 41, 29241 Brest, France.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bonne
authors.affiliation: Service d'ORL-CCF, hôpital Morvan, CHRU de Brest, 2, avenue Foch, 29609 Brest cedex, France.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Marianowski
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000601:surgery; D017577:Cutaneous Fistula / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007825:Laryngectomy; D008297:Male; D054843:Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy; D010608:Pharyngeal Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D010611:Pharyngectomy; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D016156:Respiratory Tract Fistula / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies