Fluorescent Imaging during Surgery to Identify Tissue Blood Flow and Decrease Pharyngocutaneous Fistula Rates in Laryngeal and Hypopharyngeal Cancer Patients Undergoing Total Laryngectomy
This phase II trial studies whether fluorescent imaging during surgery (intraoperative) can be used to identify tissue blood flow and decrease pharyngocutaneous fistula rates in patients with laryngeal and hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma who are undergoing surgery to completely remove the voicebox (total laryngectomy). With any surgery, there is always a possibility of complications. One complication after total laryngectomy is called a pharyngocutaneous fistula (PF). A PF is a leak in the pharynx (the tube that helps people breathe and digest food). PFs are more likely to develop when the tissue has decreased blood flow. The fluorescent imaging used in this study is the SPY trademark Elite Fluorescence imaging system. The SPY Elite Fluorescence imaging system uses a dye called indocyanine green to allow surgeons to visualize microvascular blood flow and perfusion in tissue intraoperatively. This may help surgeons better see tissue with decreased blood flow and allow them to remove it during surgery, which may decrease PF rates.