Countermeasure against postoperative fistulas of head and neck cancer

It is very difficult to treat postoperative fistulas of head and neck cancer by irradiation and other preoperative therapy. We reviewed 179 patients with oral cancer, mesopharyngeal and hypopharyngeal cancer underwent reconstruction between 1994 and 2003. Our analysis reveals that the incidence of fistula is 18.4% and exposure dose is predisposing factor for fistula formation. We observed many fistulas in posterior of oral floor and pedicle flap more than free flap. There are 14 patients of surgical repair, we detected pseudomonas aeruginosa and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in them. (author)