Communication status following laryngectomy: the Iowa experience 1984-1987

Data regarding treatment and outcome for a consecutive series of 73 total laryngectomy patients were collected from clinical records with a follow-up period of 30 to 78 months postoperatively. Notable findings were that 27% were women; 75% reported hoarseness or a voice change as an early symptom; a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inAnnals of otology, rhinology & laryngology Vol. 101; no. 6; p. 503
Main Authors Morris, H L, Smith, A E, Van Demark, D R, Maves, M D
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 01.06.1992
Subjects
Aged
Anastomosis, Surgical
Communication
Esophagus - surgery
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Laryngectomy
Male
Medical Records
Middle Aged
Postoperative Care
Postoperative Complications - therapy
Postoperative Period
Prostheses and Implants
Speech-Language Pathology - methods
Trachea - surgery
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Summary:Data regarding treatment and outcome for a consecutive series of 73 total laryngectomy patients were collected from clinical records with a follow-up period of 30 to 78 months postoperatively. Notable findings were that 27% were women; 75% reported hoarseness or a voice change as an early symptom; and 22% reported combined heavy use of both cigarettes and alcohol. Of the 73 patients, 38 (52%) died during the follow-up period; 18 of the 38 died within 1 year postoperatively. Thirty-nine (53%) of the 73 had received a surgical tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF) for voice restoration, as either a primary or a secondary procedure. Of the 39, 75% were using the TEF at last examination, with no failures attributed to sphincter spasm. Of the total group, the primary communication modality was reported to be use of a TEF by 44% and use of an electrolarynx by 50%. Limitations of the study and directions for future investigations are discussed.
ISSN:0003-4894
DOI:10.1177/000348949210100611