Outcomes following pharyngolaryngectomy reconstruction with the anterolateral thigh (ALT) free flap

We retrospectively reviewed 15 cases of pharyngolaryngectomy for advanced laryngeal carcinoma reconstructed with the anterolateral thigh (ALT) free flap. Thirteen patients had primary surgery and adjuvant treatment (radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy), and two had salvage surgery. Thirteen had stage III or IV disease, and eight had cervical nodal extracapsular spread. In this series all the flaps survived, and at median follow-up of 14.5 months (range 3.7–31.2), 12 of the 15 patients were alive. One patient developed a chronic pharyngocutaneous fistula, and five required repeat balloon dilatations for late pharyngeal strictures. Six patients enjoyed restoration of full oral intake, seven were able to take a soft diet, and two were dependent on feeding by percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy. Four patients developed adequate tracheo-oesophageal speech, and one successfully developed oesophageal speech. In this series many of the surgical problems associated with pharyngolaryngectomy reconstruction were addressed successfully by the ALT, but late dysphagia remained troublesome in an appreciable minority. While adjuvant radiotherapy could have contributed to this, future innovations will focus on the reduction of late strictures.