ABSTRACT
Objective:
Pharyngocutaneous
fistula (PCF) is a common and often devastating complication of total
laryngectomy.
Patients undergoing a total
laryngectomy need enhancement of the neopharynx to reduce the
risk of PCF formation. Our study aimed to evaluate the formation of a PCF following a total
laryngectomy in
patients that underwent a modified closure
technique of their neopharynx. This
technique included the recruitment of a flap of the muscular division of the pretracheal
fascia that invests the strap
muscles as a protective blanket. We called this surgical
technique the 'curtain call'.
Methods:
We conducted a
retrospective study for
patients who underwent a total
laryngectomy in our department between May 2022 and May 2023.
Results:
Twelve
patients were identified. Our results demonstrated that the recruitment of this modified closure
technique to cover the neopharynx resulted in a very low rate of postoperative PCF formation (8.3%).
Conclusion:
The 'curtain call'
technique is an excellent
method to support the neopharynx with extremely low rates of postoperative chronic
dysphagia and with no evidence of impairing the development of
esophageal speech. It could sometimes substitute much more
time-consuming
techniques like major pectoralis flap and supraclavicular flap. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available
at 10.1007/s12070-023-04343-7.
