title: Spirometry in elderly laryngectomized patients: A feasibility study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Laryngeal cancer is the second most common respiratory neoplasm after lung cancer. Laryngectomy is a well established treatment for larynx cancers which involve relevant anatomic alterations. Spirometry is an essential investigation tool for diagnosis and severity of respiratory diseases, difficult to perform in laryngectomees.
  
  
  METHODS
  43 consecutive laryngectomized patients were enrolled from July 2014 to March 2015. Patients fulfilling inclusion criteria underwent spirometry at baseline assessment and after two days. During the examination, the spirometer was placed directly on the stoma of the patient, through mouthpiece "Spirometry Filter 74".
  
  
  RESULTS
  At baseline, 26 eligible laryngectomees correctly performed the spirometry test with mouthpiece adhering to the stoma; 4 patients refused to perform the second spirometry after 2 days. The feasibility of spirometry examination in these patients was 100% despite difficulties in the execution of the test. The Pearson coefficient of reproducibility for FEV1, FVC and Tiffeneau Index was, respectively, 0.98, 0.94 and 0.77.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Spirometry in laryngectomee patients is a feasible procedure for assessment of respiratory function; despite technical difficulties in the execution of the test, our results underline the reproducibility and repeatability of the spirometry. In conclusion, when performed within dedicated respiratory pathophysiology unit, spirometry is a reliable tool in the assessment and follow up of laryngectomees.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic and Respiratory Sciences, Second University of Naples, Dei Colli Hospital, Via Leonardo Bianchi, 80131, Naples, Italy. Electronic address: aleizzo85@yahoo.it.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Izzo
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic and Respiratory Sciences, Second University of Naples, Dei Colli Hospital, Via Leonardo Bianchi, 80131, Naples, Italy. Electronic address: perrotta572@msn.com.
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Perrotta
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic and Respiratory Sciences, Second University of Naples, Dei Colli Hospital, Via Leonardo Bianchi, 80131, Naples, Italy. Electronic address: antonio.cennamo@yahoo.it.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cennamo
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic and Respiratory Sciences, Second University of Naples, Dei Colli Hospital, Via Leonardo Bianchi, 80131, Naples, Italy. Electronic address: fscerqua@hotmail.it.
authors.forename: Francesco Saverio
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Cerqua
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic and Respiratory Sciences, Second University of Naples, Dei Colli Hospital, Via Leonardo Bianchi, 80131, Naples, Italy. Electronic address: lucarinaldi@tin.it.
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rinaldi
authors.affiliation: Division of Thoracic Surgery, A.O. Dei Colli Monaldi Hospital, Naples, Italy. Electronic address: antonio.mazzella86@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mazzella
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic and Respiratory Sciences, Second University of Naples, Dei Colli Hospital, Via Leonardo Bianchi, 80131, Naples, Italy. Electronic address: edoardogrella@unina2.it.
authors.forename: Edoardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Grella
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic and Respiratory Sciences, Second University of Naples, Dei Colli Hospital, Via Leonardo Bianchi, 80131, Naples, Italy. Electronic address: carmelindotranfa@unina2.it.
authors.forename: Carmelindo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tranfa
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic and Respiratory Sciences, Second University of Naples, Dei Colli Hospital, Via Leonardo Bianchi, 80131, Naples, Italy. Electronic address: andrea.bianco@unina2.it.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bianco
authors.affiliation: Division of Pneumology, A.O. Dei Colli Monaldi Hospital, Naples, Italy. Electronic address: francescostefanelli@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Stefanelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic and Respiratory Sciences, Second University of Naples, Dei Colli Hospital, Via Leonardo Bianchi, 80131, Naples, Italy. Electronic address: gennaro.mazzarella@unina2.it.
authors.forename: Gennaro
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mazzarella
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D007825:Laryngectomy; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013147:Spirometry
keywords: Elderly; Laringectomees; Spirometry