FREE JEJUNAL GRAFT RECONSTRUCTION AFTER TOTAL PHARYNGOLARYNGEAL RESECTION FOR HYPOPHARYNGEAL CANCER

The free jejunal graft is a very useful procedure for hypopharyngeal r econstruction after total pharyngolaryngectomy. Between 1985 and 1994 56 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the hypopharynx were treat ed by this method. The median age was 54 (range 35-76). There were 54 men and 2 women. The mortality rate was 4% (2/56). The graft failure w as 4% (2/56). Good swallowing function was achieved in 91% (49/54 asse ssable patients). Nine patients developed local recurrences, four pati ents had local and neck recurrences. Distant metastases occurred in si x patients and five developed metachronous cancers. Follow-up analysis showed a 5-yr survival rate of 33%. After 10 yr, the free jejunal gra ft has become, for us, the method of choice for hypopharyngeal reconst ruction after total pharyngolaryngectomy.