[Surgical voice rehabilitation: influence of postoperative radiotherapy on tracheoesophageal fistulas. Long-term follow-up study].

In an overall group of 270 patients who underwent total phonatory laryngectomy (TPL) with surgical restoration of alaryngeal voice by tracheoesophageal puncture (TEP) and prosthesis insertion, a subgroup of 152 consecutive patients who had undergone surgery at least 24 months earlier was selected (10 years follow-up). The frequency and type of effects of postoperative radiotherapy on TPL were studied. We analyzed postoperative complications, TEP closure and its causes, the tracheoesophageal voice achieved, and manometric results in the pharyngoesophageal segment. We conclude that postoperative radiotherapy at east a maximum dose of 65 Gy did not preclude phonatory surgery.