Personal experiences with extended frontolateral laryngectomy and simultaneous reconstruction using a cartilage/mucous membrane transplant from the nasal septum

From 1979 to 1992, 219 extended frontolateral laryngectomies were performed in Poznań with simultaneous reconstruction of the larynx using a mucochondral nasal septum flap. During following examinations local recurrences were observed in 7 cases and metastases to regional lymph nodes were found in 3 cases. Complete healing of the flap was seen in 172 patients. In these cases the laryngeal lumen was found to be wide and the transplanted mucosa was normal. In 14 patients there appeared to be partial rotation of the flap, narrowing the reconstructed lumen. Among the causes of failure were the use of a too flexible, thin septal cartilage and wound infection. Detailed acoustic recordings of postoperative voices are presented as examples of successful surgery.