FREE VASCULARIZED JEJUNUM INTERPOSITION FOR PHARYNGOESOPHAGEAL RECONSTRUCTION AFTER TOTAL LARYNGOPHARYNGECTOMY

The records of 28 patients who underwent free jejunal graft reconstruc tion after resection for cancer involving the pharynx were analysed. S even patients had a T3 carcinoma, 15 patients T4 and six patients recu rrence after laryngectomy. Ten patients had received radiotherapy in t he past. Post-operatively, 15 patients (54%) had complications and two patients (7%) died. No significant difference was observed in the com plication rate between the group that received radiotherapy in the pas t and those who did not. Nineteen patients received post-operative rad iotherapy. Nine patients had no radiotherapy on the basis of complete resection or because of serious complications. For the whole group the 2-year recurrence free period and survival were 42% and 51% respectiv ely. The post-operative radiotherapy group had a significantly better survival (73%) and recurrence free period (63%) than the group without post-operative radiotherapy (0%). Thus, post-operative radiotherapy s eems indicated irrespective of resection margins.