Greater Omentum Used for Carotid Cover After Pharyngolaryngoesophagectomy and Gastric 'Pull-up' or Colonic 'Swing'

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Abstract
• An excellent method of rehabilitation for swallowing after total pharyngolaryngoesophagectomy is the reconstruction of the pharyngoesophagus with an autogenous visceral transplant. The most popular and reliable methods are the gastric "pull-up" and colonic "swing." A complication of this procedure—which can result in morbidity as well as mortality—is carotid artery rupture, especially when a neck dissection is performed. This is usually the result of wound breakdown secondary to adjunctive use of radiotherapy. When we have performed a radical neck dissection in conjunction with a visceral transplantation, we have used pedicled omentum as a live, durable cover for the carotid artery. (Arch Otolaryngol 1982;108:685-687)