Published online by Cambridge University Press: 19 May 2008
The aim of this review was to examine long-term swallowing and eating outcomes following laryngopharyngoesophagectomy with gastric pull-up reconstruction.
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.
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.
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.