This is a retrospective review of patients with advanced malignant neoplasms of the larynx treated with total laryngectomy. 387 total laryngectomies for advanced squamous cell carcinoma of larynx performed in the period between 1995 and 2007 were analyzed. Primary total laryngectomy (PRT) was performed in 316 patients, while initial radiotherapy radiotherapy (60-70 Gy) and concomitant chemother...

OBJECTIVES To determine the quality of life (QOL) in patients using valved speech following total laryngectomy with a validated patient self-report scale. STUDY DESIGN Cross-sectional cohort study. PATIENTS 63 patients following total laryngectomy using valved speech. INTERVENTION University of Washington Quality of Life (UW-QOL) questionnaire. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Patient perception o...

Laryngectomy patients usually have poor pulmonary functions due to long-term smoking. Their lungs can easily be decompensated. Hence, meticulous evaluation and timely management of severe respiratory distress in laryngectomy patients can be life savers. Here we present an interesting case of a laryngectomy patient with two different clinical presentations of life-threatening respiratory distres...

BACKGROUND Gaining a new voice is one of the major aims after total laryngectomy. The objective of this study was to describe the process and results of speech rehabilitation during the first year after surgery. METHODS Speech intelligibility was measured 6 months (n = 273) and 1 year (n = 225) after total laryngectomy. RESULTS Objective (23.4 to 47.5 points, p < .0001) and subjective (51.6...

Objectives: To determine whether, in a developing world context, early oral feeding after laryngectomy is safe, cost-effective and appropriate. Study design: A prospective study of early oral feeding after laryngectomy, compared with retrospective, historical delayed feeding controls. Method: Forty patients underwent total laryngectomy for advanced carcinoma of the larynx with or without hypoph...

OBJECTIVES Over past decades, function-preserving surgery has been oncologically effective for specific types of laryngeal cancer. Although safe short-term swallow function has been reported, swallow safety during long-term survival has received less attention. The purpose of this report is to highlight potential consequences of late dysphagia and chronic aspiration after partial laryngectomy. ...

BACKGROUND Total laryngectomy after (chemo)radiotherapy is associated with a high incidence of fistula and therefore flaps are advocated. The description of a transoral robotic total laryngectomy prompted us to develop similar minimally invasive open approaches for functional total laryngectomy. METHODS A retrospective study of consecutive unselected patients with a dysfunctional larynx after...

BACKGROUND Pharyngocutaneous fistula is a serious complication of total laryngectomy. The purpose of this study was to examine predisposing factors at our institution. METHODS We conducted a retrospective review of 94 consecutive patients undergoing total laryngectomy. Cases with hypopharyngeal primary tumors or undergoing extended hypopharyngeal resection with flap augmentation of the pharyn...

Organ preservation protocols of high-dose chemoradiotherapy have become fairly common to treat head and neck cancers. However, significant swallowing problems can occur. This study examines swallowing, oral tongue pressures, and tongue base-to-pharyngeal wall pressures in a patient who underwent total laryngectomy for improvement of swallowing after chemoradiotherapy for treatment of a hypophar...