Comparison of xenogeneic acellular dermal matrix and skin grafts in reconstruction of postoperative defects of hypopharyngeal cancer: A retrospective cohort study.

Successful reconstruction after tumor resection facilitates rapid recovery and retention of good quality of life, and this is important for a successful operation. This study aimed to analyze and compare the application and efficacy of xenogeneic acellular dermal matrix (xeno-ADM) and abdominal skin graft in hypopharynx reconstruction.This is a retrospective cohort study that included 25 patients with posterior hypopharyngeal wall cancer who underwent partial hypopharyngectomy with laryngeal preservation. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to the repair materials used. Eleven patients were treated with xeno-ADM, and 14 patients with abdominal skin grafts for repairing hypopharyngeal mucosal defects. The intraoperative data, postoperative recovery time of eating function, graft contraction, infection and pharyngeal fistula rate, and 1-year survival rate of the 2 groups were analyzed and compared.Compared with skin grafts group (23.1 ± 5.8 days), the recovery time of eating function in xeno-ADM group was shorter (17.3 ± 6.4 days), (P = .026). Also the number of postoperative hospitalization days were less in the xeno-ADM group (18.5 ± 6.7 days) than in the skin grafts group (24.1 ± 5.6 days) (P = .035). Besides, no significant differences were observed in other comparisons between the 2 groups. Also no obvious rejection and severe graft contraction were observed in both the groups. All patients were successfully decannulated.Both xeno-ADM and abdominal skin grafts demonstrated good effects in the reconstruction of hypopharynx, but the recovery time of eating function in patients with xeno-ADM was faster, which may be due to rapid epithelialization. In addition, it avoids trauma of donor sites.