Laryngoesophagectomy: Primary Closure with Laryngotracheal Autograft

140-year history of pharyngoesophageal reconstruction

“…Prior to the 1970s, there were multiple attempts to solve the problem of multiple reconstructive stages with the use of laryngotracheal autografts, 26 , 27 free-skin grafting over stents, 28 and the use of plastic tubes. 29 One intriguing idea was the use of free, full-thickness tubular grafts of penile skin.…”

“…In 1969, Harrison found that with multi-step pharyngoesophageal reconstruction methods, local recurrence was seen between stages in at least 50 per cent of his patients. 25 Prior to the 1970s, there were multiple attempts to solve the problem of multiple reconstructive stages with the use of laryngotracheal autografts, 26,27 free-skin grafting over stents, 28 and the use of plastic tubes. 29 One intriguing idea was the use of free, full-thickness tubular grafts of penile skin.…”

Surgical treatment of hypopharyngeal and cervical esophageal cancer

“…Attempts to implant prostheses permanently have not proven successful [2], but recently, removable conduits have been useful for palliative purposes [10,11]. Stented skin grafts have been used for total pharyngoesophageal reconstruction [12][13][14][15] or in combination with laryngotracheal autografts [16,17]. Full-thickness tubular grafts of penile skin [18][19][20] are an interesting variation in the use of skin grafts for esophageal replacement.…”