Spirometric lung function changes after total laryngectomy

ABSTRACT

In this study, repeated pulmonary function tests were studied in 20 patients with laryngeal carcinoma at 3 days before total laryngectomy, and 2 and 6 months after the operation, using a special extratracheal device in order to assess the effect of removal of the larynx on the pulmonary function and the possibility of management of treatable pulmonary function abnormalities. The present study aimed to determine if the newly designed extratracheal device used in the study enables and facilitates flow volume and resistance measurements performed with spirometric study. Also, the effect of bronchodilator for reversibility of airway obstruction in laryngectomized patients was studied. Finally, the compatibility of the data obtained from a questionnaire with the findings obtained from spirometric lung function was assessed. The results obtained in the present study revealed that in laryngectomized patients, expiratory lung functions were lower than the predicted values. Bronchodilator treatment was found to ameliorate some pulmonary function parameters in ten patients. The value of extratracheal device used was discussed