Objective: This study aimd to evaluate the application and clinical effect of improved submental island flap in hypopharyngeal cancer reserved laryngeal function surgery.
Method: A retrospective review of clinical data was performed on 38 patients of hypopharyngeal cancer reserved laryngeal function using sumental island flaps, by the way of improving in design of vascular pedicle, reconstructive mode of laryngeal and hypopharyngeal function and closing of wound of neck following hypopharyngeal cancer resection. Meanwhile, the effect and prognosis was comprehensively assessed on patients with hypopharyngeal cancer reserved laryngeal function using improved submental island flaps.
Result: The submental flaps kept alive in all 38 cases. During the follow-up period, 18 cases were dead, and of them, 7 cases died of the second primary carcinoma, included 4 cases of esophagus cancer, 1 case of cancer of soft palate, 2 cases of nasopharyngeal carcinoma; and 5 cases died of cervical or parapharyngeal lymph nodes recurrence; 2 cases died of hepatic metastasis; and 4 cases died of pulmonary metastasis. The overall 5-years survival rate was 52.6%.
Conclusion: Improved submental island flap repairing postoperative defect of hypopharyngeal cancer reserved laryngeal function has many advantages including higher success rate, more security, easy and simple to operate as well as good clinical effects, and is worth to widespread using.