Doctors there recently performed a successful procedure to reconstruct the pharynx and esophagus for a patient with advanced stage 4B hypopharyngeal cancer. This innovative procedure utilized a double-vessel jejunal flap, a technique developed with input from the International Cancer Institute in Osaka, Japan.

The patient, a 50-year-old man from Long An, had been suffering from difficulty swallowing, leading to a diagnosis of hypopharyngeal cancer with widespread metastasis. The surgical team performed a comprehensive procedure that included removing the hypopharynx, esophagus, larynx, thyroid cartilage, and associated lymph nodes, before reconstructing the affected areas with a portion of the small intestine (jejunum) connected by its blood vessels.

This approach offers a better chance of success compared to previous treatments, such as limited resections and radiation therapy, which were often ineffective, leading to poor outcomes. The successful reconstruction has significantly improved the patient's recovery prospects, enabling him to begin drinking water after just 18 days. The hospital plans to continue with radiation and chemotherapy to prevent recurrence.

Hypopharyngeal cancer has a poor prognosis, with 77% of cases diagnosed at stage 4, and a 5-year survival rate of only about 35%. The complexity of treating such cases often requires multidisciplinary care, including surgery, reconstruction, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and rehabilitation.

The article emphasizes how advances in surgical techniques, like the double-vessel jejunal flap, can improve patient outcomes and quality of life, even for those with advanced-stage cancers.