Functional status after total laryngectomy: cross-sectional survey of 79 laryngectomees using the Performance Status Scale for Head and Neck Cancer.
BACKGROUND
Total laryngectomy affects patients' post-operative speech and swallowing functions. We aimed to assess these outcomes.


METHODS
Patients' normalcy of diet, ability to eat in public and speech comprehensibility were assessed using the Performance Status Scale for Head and Neck Cancer, in a cross-sectional survey of disease-free laryngectomees.


RESULTS
Seventy-nine laryngectomees (72 men and seven women), with a mean age of 64 years (range 37 to 96), were included. Mean scores were 81.6 (standard deviation 29.2) for normalcy of diet, 77.8 (standard deviation 30.2) for eating in public and 65.2 (standard deviation 23.5) for speech. Normalcy of diet achieved higher scores within six months of laryngectomy and remained stable. There was a statistically significant difference between scores for the speech and public eating domains, comparing patients less and more than six months post-laryngectomy. This trend was maintained beyond 12 months.


CONCLUSIONS
In post-laryngectomy patients, Performance Status Scale for Head and Neck Cancer scores improved over time, especially those for the speech and public eating domains, reflecting increasing confidence in social interactions and familiarity with surgical voice restoration.
Oozeer
N B
NB
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Trust, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE7 7DN, UK. n.oozeer@googlemail.com
Owen
S
S
Perez
B Z
BZ
Jones
G
G
Welch
A R
AR
Paleri
V
V
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003679:Deglutition / Q000502:physiology; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D007825:Laryngectomy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013065:Speech Intelligibility / Q000502:physiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014833:Voice Quality