TY - JOUR
T1 - Pharyngocutaneous fistula after laryngeal surgery
T2 - The role of the barium swallow
AU - Giordano, A. M.
AU - Cohen, J.
AU - Adams, G. L.
PY - 1984
Y1 - 1984
N2 - Pharyngocutaneous fistula is one of the major complications following laryngeal surgery. Prior to 1979, patients undergoing laryngectomy at the University of Minnesota were not fed until 9 or 10 days postoperatively if unirradiated and 12 to 14 days if irradiated. Most fistulas were apparent by 14 days postoperatively, but occasionally a patient would develop a fistula as late as a month postoperatively. Starting in 1979, in an attempt to decrease the length of hospitalization as well as prevent fistula formation, routine barium-swallow videoesophagograms were obtained 7 days postoperatively in all laryngectomy patients. If the results were considered normal, the nasogastric tube was removed and oral feedings were started. Of a total of 45 patients undergoing wide-field laryngectomy, there were 3 clinical fistulas and 3 radiologic fistulas. Following this protocol, we shortened the average postoperative hospitalization by 2 days without an increase in the rate of fistulization.
AB - Pharyngocutaneous fistula is one of the major complications following laryngeal surgery. Prior to 1979, patients undergoing laryngectomy at the University of Minnesota were not fed until 9 or 10 days postoperatively if unirradiated and 12 to 14 days if irradiated. Most fistulas were apparent by 14 days postoperatively, but occasionally a patient would develop a fistula as late as a month postoperatively. Starting in 1979, in an attempt to decrease the length of hospitalization as well as prevent fistula formation, routine barium-swallow videoesophagograms were obtained 7 days postoperatively in all laryngectomy patients. If the results were considered normal, the nasogastric tube was removed and oral feedings were started. Of a total of 45 patients undergoing wide-field laryngectomy, there were 3 clinical fistulas and 3 radiologic fistulas. Following this protocol, we shortened the average postoperative hospitalization by 2 days without an increase in the rate of fistulization.
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U2 - 10.1177/019459988409200104
DO - 10.1177/019459988409200104
M3 - Article
C2 - 6422411
AN - SCOPUS:0021359299
SN - 0194-5998
VL - 92
SP - 19
EP - 23
JO - Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
JF - Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
IS - 1
ER -