Cricohyoepiglottopexy: long-term results in 55 patients

Near total laryngectomy with cricohyoepiglottopexy (CHEP) allows cure of glottic carcinomas with voice preservation. The subject of this study was to evaluate CHEP in terms of tumour control and functional result in T1 and T2 glottic carcinomas. This study reviewed retrospectively 55 consecutive cases of CHEP performed between January 1, 1981 and September 1, 1992 with the exclusion of post-radiotherapy salvage surgery. CHEP was indicated for a T1a limit to the anterior commissure and/or with dysplasia of the other vocal fold (10 cases), T1b (11 cases) and T2 (34 cases) glottic carcinomas. All our patients have a follow-up of more than five years. The post-operative course after this surgery was generally uneventful. The median time to decannulation was 18 days, to removal of the nasogastric tube was 15 days and to discharge from hospital was 23 days. No significant difference was observed according to the preservation of one or both arytenoid cartilages. The long-term functional result can be considered to be good in three-quarters of cases, with normal oral swallowing and an easily understood voice. The remaining one quarter had a whispery voice and sometimes episodes of aspiration when swallowing liquids. In terms of oncological results, the five-year recurrence-free survival rate was 94 per cent for T1 and 84 per cent for T2. The ultimate tumour control (taking into account four cases of total laryngectomy) was 94 per cent for T1 and 93 per cent for T2. Primary surgery by CHEP therefore appears to be a good option for early glottic carcinomas. The main problem remains that voice recovery is mediocre in one quarter of patients.