Nursing care to patients after total laryngectomy should be based on scientific knowledge. Evidence-based practice is a type of approach that stimulates the use of research results in clinical practice. This study presents a systematic review that aimed to identify the main treatments for pharyngocutaneous fistulae after total laryngectomy. Articles were selected from five databases: Pubmed, Ci...

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS To assess the feasibility of microvascular free tissue transfer in the multiply irradiated patient. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective cohort analysis of 48 patients in a tertiary care, private practice setting. METHODS Inclusion criteria were defined as patients who received multiple courses of radiation and underwent subsequent free tissue reconstruction to manage treatment-...

Surgical technique of total laryngectomy is well presented in many surgical textbooks. Essentially, it has remained the same since Gluck an Soerensen in 1922 described all its details. Generally, it stresses the U shape skin incision with releasing laryngeal structures and removing larynx from up to down. Further, pharyngeal reconstruction is performed with different kinds of sutures in two or ...

OBJECTIVES Superficial ulnar artery is a vascular anomaly that may be encountered during elevation of forearm flaps for head and neck reconstruction. This anomaly should be considered in patients with a positive Allen's test. STUDY DESIGN Case report and retrospective review of forearm flaps performed at our institution. METHODS A 72-year-old man with a history of total laryngectomy present...

BACKGROUND Radical surgery followed by radiotherapy plays an important role in the treatment of patients with hypopharyngeal cancer. However, there is no general consensus as to which is the best method of reconstruction after surgical resection. METHODS We retrospectively reviewed the records of 91 patients who underwent radical surgery and reconstruction. Postoperative complications and onc...

AIM To present our experiences in using a pectoralis major myocutaneous flap in the reconstruction of surgically created defects of the neck and lower part of the head during the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina. METHODS Retrospective analysis of medical records from 15 patients treated at the ENT Department, Tuzla University Hospital, between January 1992 and December 1996. RESULTS Ten flaps ...

Introduction: The techniques of partial laryngectomy are based on the compartimentalization of the larynx and their aims are to provide the oncologically radical excision and to preserve the laryngeal function. Objective: To evaluate the oncological results and the complications in patients submitted to these techniques. Methods: A consecutive series of 120 patients underwent partial laryngecto...

Objective In this retrospective cohort study, we aimed to determine the incidence of pharyngocutaneous fistula (PCF) after total laryngectomy (TL) and to define the possible predictors for PCF formation. Methods The medical records of 198 patients with laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma who underwent TL were reviewed. After the exclusion of patients with history of free flap reconstruction, pr...

Objectives. A pharyngocutaneous fistula (PCF) following total laryngectomy is associated with increased morbidity and severe life threatening complications. We aimed to review our experience with the PCF following total laryngectomy and determine the impact of previously reported risk factors on the development of PCF in our patients. Methods. The medical records of 20 patients who had a total ...