Complications of total laryngectomy

Abstract EN

Aim of study : To find out various complications after total laryngectomy, with refrences to their presentation,diagnosis and management. Design : It was a retrospective descriptive study. Setting : Otolaryngology deprtment, AdDiwanyah teaching hospital, from1st of October 1999 till 31 of December 2007 Patients and methods : 43 patients undergoing total laryngectomy for proven carcinoma of the larynx were included in this study.

Patients were reviewed after surgery and any complication that occurred was recorded.

The presentation, diagnosis and management of these complication are discussed, along with voice rehabilitation after total laryngectomy. Result : There were 33 male and 10 femal.

Age of patient range from 44-66 years. Complication included ; pharnygocutaneous fistula(5 patients),cervical lymph node Metastasis (4 patients),wound infection (3 patients), myocardial infarction(one patient).

Conclusions : Pharnyngocutaneous fistula and cervical nodal metastasis are the most common complications after total laryngectomy.

Preoperative radiotherapy, wide resection of the pharynx , early oral feeding are important risk factors for development of pharnygocutaneous fistula in total laryngectomy patients.

Postoperative radiotherapy to the neck reduces the risk of nodal metastasis after total laryngectomy