Indications of cricohyoidoepiglottopexy versus anterior frontal laryngectomy: the role of contralateral vocal fold spread.

BACKGROUND The aim of the retrospective study was to compare the indications, the postoperative outcomes, and the survival of the supracricoid laryngectomy with cricohyoidoepiglottopexy and the anterior frontal laryngectomy. METHOD Nineteen patients who underwent cricohyoidoepiglottopexy (group I) and 23 patients who underwent reconstructive anterior frontal laryngectomy (group II) from January 1992 and December 2004 have been reviewed. We have compared their respective indications and postoperative outcomes. RESULTS There were no differences for median time before decanulation. Median time for removal feeding tube, for first oral alimentation, and hospital stay period were significantly shorter in group II. Five-year survival was 85% (group I) and 95% (group II). Local tumor control was obtained in 83% in group I and in 87% in group II. CONCLUSION Cricohyoidoepiglottopexia (CHEP) was used more often than anterior frontal laryngectomy when there was contralateral vocal fold spread but resulted in longer postoperative outcomes.