Treatment of tracheoesophageal fistulas following laryngectomy by customized prostheses—A bicentric case series

Abstract Objective Tracheoesophageal fistulas (TEF) following laryngectomy cause immense restrictions due to the inability of oral feeding, loss of voice rehabilitation, penetration of saliva, and permanent need of inflatable tracheal cannulas. Patients are consistently in threat of fatal aspiration...

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Main Authors: Michael Herzog, Sebastian Plößl, Daniel Grafmans, Vasyl Bogdanov, Alexander Glien, Stefan Plontke, Ulrich Kisser
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2023-04-01
Series:Laryngoscope Investigative Otolaryngology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/lio2.1042
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author Michael Herzog
Sebastian Plößl
Daniel Grafmans
Vasyl Bogdanov
Alexander Glien
Stefan Plontke
Ulrich Kisser
author_facet Michael Herzog
Sebastian Plößl
Daniel Grafmans
Vasyl Bogdanov
Alexander Glien
Stefan Plontke
Ulrich Kisser
author_sort Michael Herzog
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Objective Tracheoesophageal fistulas (TEF) following laryngectomy cause immense restrictions due to the inability of oral feeding, loss of voice rehabilitation, penetration of saliva, and permanent need of inflatable tracheal cannulas. Patients are consistently in threat of fatal aspiration pneumonias. The failure rate of surgical approaches to close the fistulas is high and an ultima ratio option by customized silicone prostheses can be considered. Methods A retrospective analysis of 26 patients with a TEF was performed. Results The fistulas occurred in average 40 months after laryngectomy caused by an enlargement of the voice fistula in 17 patients and problems in wound healing in 6 patients. The mean diameter of the fistula was 32 × 18 mm. Eight patients were treated by a button‐shaped and 18 by a tube‐shaped prosthesis. Complete oral feeding was possible in 8 and additional feeding by percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tube in 16 patients. Voice rehabilitation by voice prostheses was possible in 18 cases. Fifteen patients died in the course of the treatment either due to oncological progression or other reasons. The median follow‐up time of the patients alive was 36 months (max 88 months) with 2.2 protheses replacements in mean (max 11). Conclusion The treatment of TEF by customized prostheses can be considered as an ultima ration option if other approaches had failed. At least, partial oral nutrition and voice rehabilitation as well as protection from aspiration can be achieved in the majority of the patients. Level of Evidence 4—Case series.
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spelling doaj.art-a273de69d1654c449bc9fdeb345c2fef2023-04-20T11:45:42ZengWileyLaryngoscope Investigative Otolaryngology2378-80382023-04-018245846510.1002/lio2.1042Treatment of tracheoesophageal fistulas following laryngectomy by customized prostheses—A bicentric case seriesMichael Herzog0Sebastian Plößl1Daniel Grafmans2Vasyl Bogdanov3Alexander Glien4Stefan Plontke5Ulrich Kisser6Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery Carl‐Thiem‐Klinikum gGmbH Carl‐Thiem‐Street 111 03048 Cottbus GermanyDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery Martin‐Luther‐University Halle—Wittenberg Halle (Saale) GermanyDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery Carl‐Thiem‐Klinikum gGmbH Carl‐Thiem‐Street 111 03048 Cottbus GermanyDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery Petrus‐Krankenhaus Carnaper Street 48 42283 Wuppertal Barmen GermanyDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery Martin‐Luther‐University Halle—Wittenberg Halle (Saale) GermanyDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery Martin‐Luther‐University Halle—Wittenberg Halle (Saale) GermanyDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery Martin‐Luther‐University Halle—Wittenberg Halle (Saale) GermanyAbstract Objective Tracheoesophageal fistulas (TEF) following laryngectomy cause immense restrictions due to the inability of oral feeding, loss of voice rehabilitation, penetration of saliva, and permanent need of inflatable tracheal cannulas. Patients are consistently in threat of fatal aspiration pneumonias. The failure rate of surgical approaches to close the fistulas is high and an ultima ratio option by customized silicone prostheses can be considered. Methods A retrospective analysis of 26 patients with a TEF was performed. Results The fistulas occurred in average 40 months after laryngectomy caused by an enlargement of the voice fistula in 17 patients and problems in wound healing in 6 patients. The mean diameter of the fistula was 32 × 18 mm. Eight patients were treated by a button‐shaped and 18 by a tube‐shaped prosthesis. Complete oral feeding was possible in 8 and additional feeding by percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tube in 16 patients. Voice rehabilitation by voice prostheses was possible in 18 cases. Fifteen patients died in the course of the treatment either due to oncological progression or other reasons. The median follow‐up time of the patients alive was 36 months (max 88 months) with 2.2 protheses replacements in mean (max 11). Conclusion The treatment of TEF by customized prostheses can be considered as an ultima ration option if other approaches had failed. At least, partial oral nutrition and voice rehabilitation as well as protection from aspiration can be achieved in the majority of the patients. Level of Evidence 4—Case series.https://doi.org/10.1002/lio2.1042aspirationcase serieslaryngectomysiliconevoice rehabilitation
spellingShingle Michael Herzog
Sebastian Plößl
Daniel Grafmans
Vasyl Bogdanov
Alexander Glien
Stefan Plontke
Ulrich Kisser
Treatment of tracheoesophageal fistulas following laryngectomy by customized prostheses—A bicentric case series
Laryngoscope Investigative Otolaryngology
aspiration
case series
laryngectomy
silicone
voice rehabilitation
title Treatment of tracheoesophageal fistulas following laryngectomy by customized prostheses—A bicentric case series
title_full Treatment of tracheoesophageal fistulas following laryngectomy by customized prostheses—A bicentric case series
title_fullStr Treatment of tracheoesophageal fistulas following laryngectomy by customized prostheses—A bicentric case series
title_full_unstemmed Treatment of tracheoesophageal fistulas following laryngectomy by customized prostheses—A bicentric case series
title_short Treatment of tracheoesophageal fistulas following laryngectomy by customized prostheses—A bicentric case series
title_sort treatment of tracheoesophageal fistulas following laryngectomy by customized prostheses a bicentric case series
topic aspiration
case series
laryngectomy
silicone
voice rehabilitation
url https://doi.org/10.1002/lio2.1042
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