title: Respiratory complications after supracricoid partial laryngectomy.
abstract: The objective of the study was to analyze the incidence, treatment, and prevention of early and late respiratory complications in a series of patients who had supracricoid partial laryngectomies with either cricohyoidoepiglottopexy or cricohyoidopexy. From medical charts, we retrospectively reviewed 101 patients who underwent supracricoid partial laryngectomies, from 1980 to 2006, for laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma, and recorded the various postoperative complications and the time of decannulation. The mortality rate was 3.96%. Early complications included broncho-pulmonary infections and laryngeal stenoses which occurred in 9.9%. Univariate analysis showed a statistically significant relationship between the pulmonary complications and neck dissections (p < 0.04). Later, they were due to laryngeal obstruction (neolaryngeal mucosal flap, residual false vocal cord fold or arytenoid edema). The median decannulation time was 8 days, and there was a significant relationship between the decannulation delay and the pulmonary complications. Only two patients had a later definitive tracheotomy. Respiratory complications after supracricoid partial laryngectomy are frequent, but can be easily managed in most cases. A preoperative pulmonary assessment is necessary to select patients. During surgery, a precise impaction of the hyoid bone with the cricoid cartilage and a repositioning of an arytenoid can avoid some postoperative stenoses.
authors.affiliation: ENT, Head and Neck Surgery Department, University Hospital Rangueil-Larrey, 24 Chemin de Pouvourville TSA 30030, 31059, Toulouse Cedex 9, France. anne.decotte@aliceadsl.fr
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Decotte
authors.forename: Virginie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Woisard
authors.forename: Josiane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Percodani
authors.forename: Jean-Jacques
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Pessey
authors.forename: Elie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Serrano
authors.forename: Sebastien
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vergez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000601:surgery; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003413:Cricoid Cartilage / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*; D007825:Laryngectomy / Q000379:methods*; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D037981:Neck Dissection; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000601:surgery; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014140:Tracheotomy