Postoperative Complications of Jejunal and Skin Valve Reconstruction in Free Reconstructive Surgery for Hypopharyngeal Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND/AIM: This study evaluated the incidence of perioperative complications in jejunal flap compared with the free tissue flap approach.

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

This study included 75 patients who underwent free flap reconstruction for hypopharyngeal carcinoma. The primary outcome was the incidence of pharyngocutaneous fistula, and the secondary outcomes were perioperative complications.

RESULTS

Pharyngocutaneous fistula developed in 7% of patients who underwent jejunal flap procedures and 6% of patients who underwent free tissue flap procedure. Flap sampling site complications occurred in 23% of patients who underwent jejunal flap procedures and in none of the patients who underwent free tissue flap procedure.

CONCLUSION

No significant difference was observed in the incidence of pharyngocutaneous fistula between the two groups (p=0.99), but complications at the flap sampling site were significantly more common in jejunal flap procedures than in free tissue flap procedures (p=0.03). Free tissue flap procedures are potential reconstruction methods superior to jejunal flap methods.