title: Swallowing function in patients with vertical hemipharyngolaryngectomy for hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate the long-term swallowing function in patients with vertical hemipharyngolaryngectomy (VHPL) for hypopharyngeal cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective review of 30 patients followed for more than 2 years with VHPL between 1998 and 2011 was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five patients (16.7%) experienced gastrostomy tube placement, 4 patients (13%) had pharyngoesophageal stricture, and 13 patients (45%) had aspiration pneumonia. There was a significant difference in the fraction of gastrostomy tube placement among type II VHPL (35.7%), type I VHPL (0%), and type III VHPL (0%; p = .014). Gastrostomy tube dependence was significantly associated with flap size (larger than 70 cm(2) ; p = .043) and aspiration pneumonia (p = .009). A significant positive correlation was found between current smokers and aspiration pneumonia (p = .030).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Type II VHPL, large flap reconstruction, and aspiration pneumonia had predictable values for gastrostomy tube dependence. Smoking status correlated with aspiration pneumonia. Better counseling and vigilance concerning swallowing difficulties may be possible.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Young-Hoon
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Joo
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Kwang-Jae
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Inje University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: Jun-Ook
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: In-Chul
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Nam
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Chung-Soo
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Sang-Yeon
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Min-Sik
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000601:surgery; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology*; D004940:Esophageal Stenosis / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005774:Gastrostomy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007012:Hypopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D007013:Hypopharynx / Q000601:surgery*; D007825:Laryngectomy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D059351:Organ Sparing Treatments; D011015:Pneumonia, Aspiration / Q000209:etiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013524:Surgical Flaps
keywords: deglutition; hypopharynx; reconstructive surgical procedures; squamous cell carcinoma; treatment outcome