Analysis of postoperative complications of open partial laryngectomy

The objective of this study was to report the incidence of postoperative complications for partial laryngectomy and to identify patient- and tumor-related factors predictive of postoperative complications.

A total of 150 patients who had a partial laryngectomy were identified from an existing database of 662 patients treated for squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx from 1984 to 1998. Postoperative complications were recorded and categorized into local, swallowing, airway, and systemic complications. Patient- and tumor-related predictors of complications were identified by univariate and multivariate analyses.

There was no postoperative mortality. Twenty percent of patients developed a postoperative complication following partial laryngectomy. Local complications were the most frequent complication and occurred in 17 (11%) patients. Laryngocutaneous fistula occurred in 6 (4%) patients. Multivariate analysis showed that prior radiation was an independent predictor of local complications and laryngocutaneous fistula with a 13-fold increase in relative risk for both.

Partial laryngectomy following radiotherapy was more frequently associated with postoperative complications. Problems related to local wound healing, especially the development of laryngocutaneous fistula, constituted the most common postoperative complication in these patients.