Challenging management of an enlarged tracheoesophageal fistula in an irradiated patient

Abstract

Speech restoration after total laryngectomy may be achieved in different ways, the gold standard being tracheoesophageal puncture (TPE) with the positioning of a speech prosthesis. TPE is not immune to complications, the most common of which being leakage through or around the prosthesis. When dealing with an enlarged tracheoesophageal fistula, the management can be either conservative or surgical. In the following case report, we present a particularly challenging case, in which every conservative strategies failed and a major surgery was required to close the fistula.

Keywords: Ear, nose and throat/otolaryngology; Head and neck surgery; Otolaryngology / ENT; Plastic and reconstructive surgery; Surgery.