Total laryngopharyngoesophagectomy with gastric transposition reconstruction: review of long-term swallowing outcomes.

Overview

AIM: The aim of this review was to examine long-term swallowing and eating outcomes following laryngopharyngoesophagectomy with gastric pull-up reconstruction. METHODS: Ten patients underwent clinical examination and completed the performance status scale for head and neck questionnaire and also a gastric pull-up swallowing questionnaire designed for this review. Nine of the 10 patients underwent videofluoroscopic examination of swallowing. RESULTS: One patient had a stricture at the orogastric anastomosis, and one patient had bilateral tongue immobility secondary to XIIth nerve palsies. Eight participants reported eating a normal diet, and five reported not limiting their eating environment. Regurgitation, slower eating and reduced capacity were the most common functional limitations. CONCLUSIONS: These results support previous opinions that the gastric pull-up procedure has good swallowing outcomes, and indicate that such outcomes continue in the long term.