Objective: To sum up the efficacy of treatment of pharyngeal fistula through pectoralis major myocutaneous flap combined with fistula local skin inversion in 20 patients.
Methods: A retrospective analysis of the therapeutic efficacy in 20 cases of laryngeal and laryngopharyngeal cancer with postoperative pharyngeal fistula, to whom double-deck repairing were operated on through pectoralis major myocutaneous island flap combined with inversion of skin around fistula from January 2010 to December 2013.
Results: 20 patients were treated by improved pharyngeal fistula inverting suture of pectoralis major myocutaneous flap combined with the skin around the pharyngeal fistula. Flap around the fistula were sutured without tension formation. The pectoralis major myocutaneous flaps were sutured without tension formation covering the inner flanging flap wound. 20 patients were on a nasogastric liquid diet after operation for one week and received antibiotics to prevent infection. Then they all took liquid diet after one week, and had extubation safely later. Stitches were removed 10 more days later. All the twenty patients were recovered successfully, among them, 16 cases recovered in stage Ⅰ and left the hospital 10 days later, 4 cases recovered in stage Ⅱ and left the hospital 20 days later. All the 4 cases recovered in stage Ⅱ were treated with radiotherapy. Fistulas less than 1 cm occurred near their anastomotic stomas at 7 to 14 days after operation. They were healed well by dressing change and pressure dressing. No recurrence was observed during the six months follow-up.
Conclusions: Pectoralis major myocutaneous flap combined with fistula local skin inversion is a good way to repair pharyngeal fistula, and it is suitable for the laryngeal and laryngopharynx cancer patients with postoperative throat fistula in an internal diameter larger than 2 cm.