Complications that affect postlaryngectomy voice restoration: primary surgery vs salvage surgery.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effect of primary treatment on tracheoesophageal voice prosthesis (TEP) complications.


METHODS
Retrospective cohort study.


METHODS
The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland.


METHODS
Patients who underwent total laryngectomy and TEP between January 1, 1998, and December 31, 2008, were divided into 3 subgroups according to primary treatment: surgery (n = 81), radiotherapy (n = 61), and chemoradiotherapy (n = 32).


METHODS
Number of weeks before leakage through the TEP, occurrence of leakage around the TEP, TEP dislodgement, and size changes 6 months or longer after laryngectomy.


RESULTS
A total of 174 patients met the study criteria. Of the 81 patients who underwent primary surgery, 81% (n = 66) underwent adjuvant therapy with postoperative radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy. The incidence of leakage around the prosthesis, prosthesis dislodgement, and size changes 6 months or longer after laryngectomy were significantly higher for patients who required salvage total laryngectomy after chemoradiotherapy or radiotherapy (P < .05). In addition, significantly more patients who underwent salvage total laryngectomy required extended laryngectomy or free tissue reconstruction.


CONCLUSIONS
Voice prosthesis complications are more frequently encountered in those who require salvage laryngectomy. Understanding the potential for such complications reinforces the need for close communication and follow-up with these patients by the speech language pathologist.
Starmer
Heather M
HM
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA. hstarme1@jhmi.edu
Ishman
Stacey L
SL
Flint
Paul W
PW
Bhatti
Nasir I
NI
Richmon
Jeremy
J
Koch
Wayne
W
Webster
Kimberly
K
Tufano
Ralph
R
Gourin
Christine G
CG
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D007825:Laryngectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007831:Larynx, Artificial; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011379:Prognosis; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016879:Salvage Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D014832:Voice Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D014833:Voice Quality / Q000502:physiology*