PHARYNGOLARYNGO-ESOPHAGECTOMY WITH IMMEDIATE GASTRIC PULL-UP

Background: This paper documents our experience with patients who unde rwent laryngopharyngoesophagectomy with immediate gastric pull-up proc edures. Patients and Method: Fifteen patients with carcinoma of the hy popharynx and cervical esophagus underwent total laryngopharyngo-esoph agectomy with immediate gastric pull-up procedures over a period of ni ne years at the Asir Central Hospital in the southwestern region of Sa udi Arabia. Results: The most common complication was cervical fistula , which with its sequelae occurred in 40%. Postoperative function in t erms of swallowing ability was good but rehabilitation of speech was p oor. The overall hospital mortality was 7%, and the crude survival rat e was 40%. The most common cause of long-term failure was the recurren ce of the disease. Conclusion: The success of this operative procedure depends on wide surgical excision of cancer along with rapid reconstr uction of alimentary canal.