[Endoscopic CO2 laser treatment for the decannulation difficulty after vertical laryngectomy].

Sixteen patients with the decannulation difficulty after vertical laryngectomy were treated by endoscopic CO2 laser. The rate of decannulation was 87.5% (14/16). The curative effect was stable after 1-3 years. The causes of the decannulation difficulty included the over growth of granulation tissue, scar formation and bulky of the muscle flap. The result showed that endoscopic CO2 laser is an effective modality in the treatment of the decannulation difficulty after vertical laryngectomy.