[The long-term morphology of the nasal cavity after total laryngectomy]

To investigate the long-term effect of nasal airflow deprivation on nasal dimensions after total laryngectomy.

Thirty-two patients with total laryngectomy were enrolled in the study. Acoustic rhinometry was used to measure the minimum cross-sectional area (MCSA) and the volume of the nasal cavity after laryngectomy, compared with the normal control group. In addition, patients underwent endoscopic nasal examinations and answered questionnaires postoperatively, symptoms between the different levels to compare the results of acoustic rhinometry.

At both within 1-year and more than 1-year follow-ups, the mean MCSAs and the mean nasal volumes were significantly expanded than the control values (P < 0.05). The nasal MCSA, nasal cavity volume was no significant difference between more than one year and less than 1 year group (P > 0.05). The endoscopic examinations revealed only a deterioration in the appearance of the nasal mucosa over the long term. Survey showed that the postoperative patients had varying degrees of nasal obstruction flu, nose dry, hyposmia, etc. The nasal MCSA, nasal cavity volume was of the largest when moderate nasal obstruction flu,or severe dry nose or severe hyposmia.

The structure was atrophic nasal change, the nasal MCSA, nasal cavity volume were larger, the results of acoustic rhinometry was different among the varying degrees of symptoms after total laryngectomy.