[Functional outcomes after supracricoid partial laryngectomy].

OBJECTIVES

We evaluated functional outcomes in patients undergoing supracricoid partial laryngectomy (SCPL).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The study included 20 male patients (mean age 61.5 years; range 43 to 76 years) who underwent SCPL for advanced laryngeal carcinoma. Correlations were sought between variables (age, medical history, reconstruction techniques such as cricohyoidopexy or cricohyoidoepiglottopexy, arytenoid resection) and decannulation time, duration for oral feeding, weight change, and complications. The mean follow-up was 20.9 months (range 7 to 39 months).

RESULTS

All patients were decannulated in a mean of 19.9 days. Eighty-five percent of patients achieved normal deglutition without aspiration or weight loss within six months postoperatively. The nasogastric feeding tube was removed in a mean of 39.7 days. Voice quality of patients was sufficient for their social communications.

CONCLUSION

Our functional results suggest that SCPL is an alternative technique to total laryngectomy in patients in whom other partial laryngectomy techniques are not considered.