Reconstruction of Velopharyngeal Function after Resection of Lateral and Superior Oropharyngeal Cancer

PURPOSE: The reconstruction of oropharyngeal defect after cancer surgery is very difficult because of their complicated structure and the functional importance to prevent velopharyngeal incompetence. In this article we investigated affecting factors of velopharyngeal function after reconstruction and a fundamental rule of reconstruction for saving their functions such as swallowing, speeching and breathing. METHODS: We classified 18 patients into three group under Kimata's grouping. Type I defect(6 patients) was healed by primary closure or secondary intention. In Type II or III defect, two operation methods were used - the folded flap(8 patients) and modified Gehanno method(4 patients), which include a lateral-posterior pharyngeal rotation-advancement flap. We evaluated wound dehiscence between the flap and the soft palate, speech intelligibility using Hirose's method, regurgitation during oral feeding, and hypernasality. RESULTS: Most of type I or II defects patients recovered satisfactory velopharyngeal function. But, in patients with type III defects we found wound dehiscence, worse speech function, and common velopharyngeal incompetence. CONCLUSION: The large defect size and presence of wound dehiscence are major factors of postoperative velopharyngeal function. We conclude that folded flap or modified Gehanno method is a good reconstructive operation method for broad contact between the flap and defect site, preventing wound problem.

Clinical Experience of Radial Forearm and Anterolateral Thigh Perforator Faciocutaneous Free Flap for Hypopharyngeal Reconstruction

The reconstruction of hypopharynx after ablation of carcinoma is quite challengeable to plastic surgeons and requires the recovery of anatomic continuity and its own function such as swallowing and speech. Various surgical methods have been evolved through the years from local flap to microvascular free flap. The latter, obviously has improved the surgical outcome playing a main role in reconstruction of hypopharynx and universally been divided into visceral free transfer and fasciocutaneous free flap. Though lots of surgical options are reported depending on the shape and size of defect, patient's desires or surgeon's empirical background, no general agreement about the reconstruction of hypopharynx exists because the advantage of the one flap can be a disadvantage of the other and vice versa. The fasciocutaneous free flaps were used for reconstruction of hypopharynx in 18 patients, radial forearm free flap for 14 and anterolateral thigh perforator flap for 4 patients, respectively and indicated following that the first is the patients have partial defect that retain the remnant mucosa more than 50% of hypopharyngeal circumference. the second indication is the patient with previous abdominal operation and the third is the patient with risk of long ischemic time of transferred bowel. the last cases is the elderly patient with other comorbid condition even though the remnant mucosa are less than 50% of hypopharyngeal circumference. We have designed the flap to have a sufficient lumen of neohypopharyngeal diameter more than 4cm and the cephalic margin of hypopharynx be wider than caudal one, like a funnel shape, to eliminate the size discrepancy between the pharyngeal and esophageal lumen. The small triangular flap extension was designed in the caudal margin to prevent the distal enteric anastomosis site from the stricture, making the circumference of distal margin to be enlarged. In this paper, we contemplate our speculation for use of fasciocutaneous free flap for reconstruction of hypopharynx with surgical finesse to get a fine surgical outcome.