Leakage around voice prosthesis in laryngectomees: treatment with local GM-CSF.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the possibility of treating leakage around voice prosthesis by local injection of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). Three patients with nonhealing leaking tracheoesophageal (TE) fistula, resistant to common treatment, were treated with local GM-CSF. Fistula size was measured and photo documented before and after treatment. In all three patients, the fistula shrank, and the leakage ceased. No side effects were observed. Local injection with GM-CSF seems to be a simple and effective way of decreasing a leaking TE-fistula in laryngectomized patients. A great advantage was that the procedure could be done with the voice prosthesis in place.