Incidence of pharyngocutaneous fistulas after laryngectomy depending on the method of nutritive drain insertion

: In the article incidence of pharyngocutaneous fistulas after total laryngectomy was estimated depending on the method of nutritive drain insertion. The study was performed in 464 patients (64% of all laryngectomized) treated surgically in ENT Department of Medical University in Lodz from 1988 to 1997. It was stated that fistulas developed in 114 cases (24.6%). There were compared two groups of patients following laryngectomy: group I was consisted of 279 patients with nasogastric tube and group II numbered 163 subjects with using a different method of nutritive drain insertion by the upper pole of neck wound during laryngectomy. It was found that pharyngocutaneous fistulas developed statistically lower in group with drain inserted by the neck wound than in group with nasogastric tube (17.8% vs 27.9% p < 0.05). Moreover patients in the second group could not suffered from the unpleasant pain in the nose, and easier accepted this manner of nutrition. Satisfactory surgical aspects for the patients and their environment confirm usefulness of different method of insertion of the nutritive drain by the neck wound.