Results of gastric pull-up reconstruction for pharyngolaryngo-oesophagectomy in advanced head and neck cancer and cervical oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Objective: To study long-term clinical swallowing function and survival outcome in head and neck and cervical oesophageal cancer patients who underwent pharyngolaryngo-oesophagectomy (PLE).

Methods: The clinical data of 48 patients who were treated with PLE were analysed. All patients had advanced disease, so the construction required a transposed stomach. Body weight and clinical swallowing function were evaluated postoperatively. The swallowing function was assessed at an interview concerning food ingestion and regurgitation. The survival group was studied using a Kaplan-Meier survival curve.

Results: Forty-one cases of hypopharyngeal cancer and four cases of cervical oesophageal cancer were studied. In three cases (6%), hypopharyngeal and thoracic oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma occurred together. Most cases had good-to-fair results. The average body weight gain was increased after surgery. There was one hospital death. The most common complications were pulmonary (4%). Median survival was 27 months.

Conclusion: A pharyngogastric anastomosis after PLE can be performed with low morbidity and good swallowing function.