The clinical characteristics of pharyngocutaneous fistula following total laryngectomy

Abstract

Pharyngocutaneous fistula （PCF） is one of the most common complications in the early postoperative period after total laryngectomy. We investigated the incidence and risk factors of PCF following total laryngectomy. Sixty patients who had received total laryngectomy at Kagoshima University Hospital between January 2007 and December 2021 were enrolled in this study. PCF developed in 7 patients （12％）, including 4 patients （7％） who had undergone radiotherapy followed by salvage laryngectomy. In salvage surgery cases, the onset of PCF was delayed and also required a longer period of time for its closure. The incidence of PCF was significantly increased in cases with a neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio （NLR） of 3 or higher. The results suggest that NLR may be a useful predictor for PCF after laryngectomy, especially in laryngeal cancer cases who have previously undergone radiotherapy.