Magnetic kissing for the endoscopic treatment of a complete iatrogenic stenosis of the hypopharynx

Complete hypopharyngeal stenosis is rare and challenging to treat [1]. A 72-year-old man underwent total laryngectomy with bilateral radical neck dissection, total thyroidectomy, and pectoralis major myocutaneous flap reconstruction to treat laryngeal cancer. Following adjuvant radiotherapy, the patient developed an hypopharyngeal stenosis. This was initially treated with endoscopic dilations. However, after 3 years, stricture recurrence led to complete obstruction of the hypopharyngeal lumen that required placement of a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tube for nutrition. After failure of endoscopic ultrasound-guided recanalization [2], an endoscopic magnetic compression anastomosis was attempted ([Video 1]). To our knowledge, this approach, used to repair esophageal atresia in children [3], has never been previously attempted in adults.