Abstract
In the educational seminar organized by the Japan Society for Head and Neck Cancer, a lecture about the surgical procedure for total pharyngo-laryngectomy was delivered. This review describes the most salient points of the lecture for the benefit of upcoming head and neck surgeons.
The oncological loco-regional results after total pharyngo-laryngectomy are fair. Therefore, this procedure is indicated for many patients with advanced hypo-pharyngeal cancer. Reduction of the quality of life after surgery cannot be avoided. However, this surgery can be performed with relatively simple surgical skills.
This surgery includes bilateral neck dissection, preservation of the thyroid and the parathyroid gland and the free jejunum transplant for reconstruction. Accordingly, pitfalls in relation to these operations must be memorized and the importance of seamless team work for the surgery must be emphasized.
