Free revascularized jejunal loop repair following total pharyngolaryngectomy for carcinoma of the hypopharynx: Report of 90 patients

Ninety patients with carcinoma of the hypopharynx underwent pharyngolaryngectomy and reconstruction with a jejunal free autograft. Fifty-five patients had primary surgery and 35 salvage surgery for recurrence after radiotherapy. Following primary surgery 28 patients had postoperative radiotherapy and 27 did not. Complications occurred in 51 per cent of patients, the most common being necrosis of the jejunal graft (19 per cent); 12 per cent developed significant stenosis and 4 per cent died in the perioperative period. Eleven per cent of patients developed a fistula. The total number of complications diminished as the experience of the unit increased. Median follow-up was 4. 9 years. Of patients treated with primary surgery, 48 per cent developed primary site recurrence (at 3 years) and 53 per cent neck node recurrence (at 5 years). The tumour-specific S-year survival rate for all patients was 42 per cent. Following primary surgery 28 per cent survived for 5 years and after salvage surgery the rate was 59 per cent. Positive resection margins and extensive neck disease adversely affected survival (P=0.02 and P=0.001 respectively). The free revascularized jejunal graft is a safe and predictable method of repair following total pharyngolaryngectomy.