Voice-related quality of life (V-RQOL) outcomes in laryngectomees.
BACKGROUND
Laryngeal cancer has a significant impact on patients. This study compared the Voice-Related Quality of Life (V-RQOL) outcomes specific to 3 different postlaryngectomy voice rehabilitation methods.


METHODS
We conducted a retrospective review of 75 patients with laryngectomy from our V-RQOL questionnaire database.


RESULTS
The database included 18 electrolaryngeal speech (ELS), 15 esophageal speech (ES), and 42 tracheoesophageal speech (TES) patients. Pairwise comparisons of V-RQOL outcomes showed that TES was perceived to be better than ELS (p < .001). ES was perceived as better than ELS, but this was driven by a difference in the total and social-emotional V-RQOL scores (p < .05). There was no difference between TES and ES groups. Only ELS showed a positive correlation with time after surgery and older age.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients using TES had similar V-RQOL outcomes compared to ES and both performed significantly better than ELS. For ELS, the total V-RQOL score was better with longer time after surgery and older age.
Moukarbel
Roger V
RV
Department of Otolaryngology, Division of Head & Neck Oncology and Reconstructive Surgery, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.
Doyle
Philip C
PC
Yoo
John H
JH
Franklin
Jason H
JH
Day
Adam M B
AM
Fung
Kevin
K
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery; D007825:Laryngectomy / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D007831:Larynx, Artificial / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013070:Speech Therapy / Q000379:methods; D013071:Speech, Alaryngeal / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D013072:Speech, Esophageal / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014833:Voice Quality