Objectives. The aim of this study was to investigate the possibility of tre
ating leakage around voice prosthesis by local injection of granulocyte-mac
rophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF).
Study Design. Three patients with nonhealing leaking tracheoesophageal (TE)
fistula, resistant to common treatment, were treated with local GM-CSF.
Material and Methods. Fistula size was measured and photo documented before
and after treatment.
Result. In all three patients, the fistula shrank, and the leakage ceased.
No side effects were observed.
Conclusion. Local injection with GM-CSF seems to be a simple and effective
way of decreasing a leaking TE-fistula in laryngectomized patients. A great
advantage was that the procedure could be done with the voice prosthesis i
n place. (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.