Repair of the laryngopharynx and cervical oesophagus after irradiation

Abstract

Abstract The present situation regarding the nature and treatment of cancer in this area is given. Types of defect and methods of repair, their complications, and the choice of methods are described. Emphasis is laid on the increased hazards of surgery for the patient after full dosage of irradiation. Treatment should be based on surgical resection, usually preceded by a modified plan of irradiation often completed after surgery. In conclusion the most valuable recent advances in the techniques of surgical repair of the laryngopharynx and cervical oesophagus afer irradiation and resection for cancer are the use of large regional skin-flaps from outside irradiated areas, and total pharyngooesophageal replacement by means of vascular pedicled gut segments.