ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to compare postoperative morbidities and functional outcomes of pectoralis major myocutaneous (PMMC) flap and cutaneous free flap reconstruction approaches in hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma patients. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed records from 99 patients who underwent hypopharyngeal reconstruction with a cutaneous free flap (n=85) or PMMC flap (n=14) between 1995 and 2013. Morbidity was classified into hospitalization, medical, or flap-related complications. Functional outcomes were classified into oral re-alimentation and decannulation time. RESULTS: The overall flap-related complication rate was higher in the PMMC flap group (n=8, 57.1%; P=0.019), but the medical morbidity rate was higher in the cutaneous free flap group (n=68, 80%; P=0.006). The rate of pneumonia was higher in the cutaneous free flap group (n=48, 56.5%; P=0.020). Pulmonary premorbidity was the variable most significantly associated with pneumonia (odds ratio=3.012, P=0.012). There was no statistically significant difference in oral re-alimentation and decannulation time between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Although the functional superiority of free flaps has been reported in many studies, our results do not support this hypothesis. One limitation of our study is the relatively smaller flap size and fewer PMMC flap cases compared with the cutaneous free flap group. The low postoperative medical morbidity incidence rate in the PMMC flap group was clinically significant; however, the free flap group had more flap-related complications. Thus, PMMC flaps should be considered a viable option, especially for patients with pulmonary premorbidities.
ABSTRACT
For advanced stage tonsil cancer, extensive resection of the soft palate is unavoidable. The purpose of this study is to report on the speech outcome according to the various types of defects and reconstruction techniques. This prospective study was performed on 53 patients of tonsil cancer. The postoperative speech function was evaluated for three factors: nasalance, speech intelligibility, and velopharyngeal insufficiency. Four reconstruction methods used for the soft palate defect: local flap, patch method, Gehanno method, and Denude method. Univariate analysis showed that the Denuded reconstruction technique, more than one-half of the soft palate resection, and T stage was significantly associated for nasalance, speech intelligibility, and velopharyngeal insufficiency. Multivariate analysis showed that the Denuded reconstruction technique (for patients with extensive soft palate and posterior pharyngeal wall defect) was the most significant variable. When the defect of tonsil cancer is extensive, especially when it extends to the posterior pharyngeal wall, a reconstruction method that can reduce the velopharyngeal cross-sectional area efficiently, such as the Gehanno method, is preferred.