Objectives: Local control and 5-year survival rates are similar for patients undergoing total laryngectomy and supracricoid laryngectomy for the treatment of advanced-stage laryngeal carcinoma. However, comprehensive studies of functional outcomes after supracricoid laryngectomy are lacking.
Study design: Cohort study.
Methods: This investigation provides objective voice laboratory data, skilled listener impressions of voice samples, swallowing evaluations, and patient self-perceptions of speech ability obtained from 10 supracricoid laryngectomees.
Results: Results demonstrated variable acoustic and speech aerodynamic disturbances, hoarse-breathy vocal quality, and speech dysfluency. Patients' self-perceptions of voice revealed severe dysphonia that induced certain emotional, physical, and functional setbacks. However, blinded judges rated these individuals as possessing intelligible speech and communication skills. All patients demonstrated premature spillage of the bolus and varying degrees of laryngeal penetration, aspiration, and retention during swallowing studies. However, each patient used a compensatory strategy to protect the airway. Voice and swallowing abilities appeared to depend on the mobility of the arytenoid cartilages, base of tongue action, and residual supraglottic tissue for the creation of a competent neoglottal sphincter complex that vibrated during phonation efforts and protected the airway during deglutition.
Conclusions: Supracricoid laryngectomy avoids the potential complications, limitations, and emotional problems associated with a permanent tracheostoma. All patients demonstrated intelligible voice and effective swallowing function postoperatively, supporting supracricoid laryngectomy as a suitable alternative surgical approach to the total laryngectomy in select patients.