Leakage around voice prosthesis in laryngectomees: Treatment with local GM‐CSF

OBJECTIVES: 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). STUDY DESIGN: Three patients with nonhealing leaking tracheoesophageal (TE) fistula, resistant to common treatment, were treated with local GM-CSF. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fistula size was measured and photo documented before and after treatment. RESULT: In all three patients, the fistula shrank, and the leakage ceased. No side effects were observed. CONCLUSION: 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.