Determination of problems in patients with post-laryngectomy

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Oncology
• Psychology

Background:

• Laryngeal cancer treatment often involves laryngectomy, leading to significant post-operative physical and psychosocial sequelae.
• Understanding these challenges is vital for comprehensive patient care and rehabilitation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the physical and psychosocial problems experienced by patients after total laryngectomy (TL) and partial laryngectomy (PL).

Main Methods:

• A study involving 25 patients diagnosed with larynx carcinoma who underwent surgery in 2010.
• Data collected using a Personal Information Form (PIF) and the Determination Form of Post Laryngectomy Problem (DFPLP).

Main Results:

• Total laryngectomy (76% of patients) was associated with physical issues like sleep disturbance (31.6%), impaired smell (52.6%), taste alteration (36.8%), and dysphagia (36.8%).
• Negative impact on sexual life reported by 47.4% of TL patients and 33.3% of PL patients.
• Patients with smell and taste disorders showed significantly lower psychosocial scores (p < 0.05).

Conclusions:

• Laryngectomy patients endure numerous physical, social, and psychological problems.
• Medical teams should address these issues proactively, offering supplementary treatments like voice prostheses, counseling, and antidepressants to enhance patient quality of life.