Laser treatment of symptomatic anterior pharyngeal pouches after laryngectomy.

UNLABELLED: BACKGROUND. An anterior pharyngeal pouch is a common anatomic variation after total laryngectomy. The exact part the pouch has to play in postlaryngectomy swallowing disorders is unknown but might be bigger than expected.

METHODS

Nine patients with a symptomatic pouch were treated with CO2 laser and questioned about pre- and postoperative complaints.

RESULTS

Eight out of nine patients noticed an obvious improvement of their swallowing complaints after laser surgery.

CONCLUSION

Based on the results, it is concluded that CO2-laser treatment with division of the bar of tissue posterior to the pouch is seen as a safe and simple way to treat patients for symptoms that can be wrongly attributed to a total laryngectomy.