Laser treatment of symptomatic anterior pharyngeal pouches after laryngectomy

Background. An anterior pharyngeal pouch is a common anatomic variation after total laryngectomy. The exact part the pouch has to play in postlaryngectomy swallowing disorders is unknown but might be bigger than expected. Methods. Nine patients with a symptomatic pouch were treated with CO(2) laser and questioned about pre- and postoperative complaints. Results. Eight out of nine patients noticed an obvious improvement of their swallowing complaints after laser surgery. Conclusion. Based on the results, it is concluded that CO(2)-laser treatment with division of the bar of tissue posterior to the pouch is seen as a safe and simple way to treat patients for symptoms that can be wrongly attributed to a total laryngectomy. (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.