The Role of the Free/Pedunculated Flap in Total Laryngectomy After (Chemo-)Radiotherapy Failure for Laryngeal Carcinoma: Impact on the Risk of Pharyngocutaneous Fistula (PCF)

Patients, once eligibility has been verified, will then be randomized (1:1) to one of the following groups: Gruop 1: STL primary suture. Group 2: STL primary suture + onlay flap Patients in both groups will then undergo surgery STL with primary suture; in those of the second group, in addition, the positioning of a free/pedunculated covering flap will also be carried out with the onlay technique. 4 months after surgery, questionnaires will be administered to the patient for the subjective evaluation of the quality of life in relation to vocal rehabilitation obtained through voice prosthesis or esophageal voice (SECEL questionnaire) and swallowing rehabilitation (SOAL questionnaire). Demographic and preoperative data will be collected, data relating to pre-(chemo-)radiotherapy and pre-STL clinical staging, as well as the interval in days between the end of (chemo-)radiotherapy and surgery, perioperative data, type of eventual unilateral or bilateral laterocervical lymph node emptying, the type of pharyngotomy suture, the type of flap possibly used, the packaging of the tracheoesophageal fistula for positioning the voice prosthesis, the definitive histological examination.

The patient must undergo a radiological examination for loco-regional and distant staging before the STL (CT or MRI) and a biopsy demonstrating the recurrence/persistence of the disease.

Inclusion criteria

• Histological confirmation of recurrence/persistence of squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx previously subjected to exclusive radiotherapy or concomitant chemo-radiotherapy treatment:

• pre (ChT-)RT staging: cT1/T2/T3 N0/N+;
• pre STL staging: rcT1/cT2/ Selected cT3 cT4a (extension to thyroid cartilage and/or prelaryngeal tissues) N0/N+ (clinically and radiologically).
• Indication for STL surgery (no pharyngeal mucosal resection);
• Functional total laryngectomies after radical (chemo-)radiotherapy treatment;
• Age > 18 years;
• Signature of informed consent and ability to complete in-office questionnaires.

Exclusion criteria

• STL extended to the pharynx and/or total pharyngeal laryngectomies;
• Extension of the tumor to the pharyngeal mucosa and/or massive extra-laryngeal extension;
• Previous open organ preservation surgery (OPHL).