Functional Laryngectomy and Quality of Life in Survivors of Head and Neck Cancer With Intractable Aspiration

Late effects of head and neck cancer (HNC) treatment include profound dysphagia, chronic aspiration, and death. Functional laryngectomy (FL) can improve patient survival and quality of life (QoL); however, removing a failing larynx for a noncancer reason is a difficult decision. Data regarding the ability of FL to improve self-perceptions of voice, swallowing, and QOL in survivors of HNC with intractable aspiration are inconclusive.

To investigate the association of FL with changes in self-reported perceptions of voice, swallowing, oral intake, QoL, and mood in survivors of HNC experiencing profound dysphagia and intractable aspiration.

This cohort study was conducted at a single academic institution and included survivors of HNC with profound swallowing dysfunction and intractable aspiration who underwent FL from July 2016 through March 2022. Of the initial 22 patients enrolled, 2 patients (15%) died of aspiration pneumonia before receiving FL. Data analyses were performed from July 2016 through March 2023.

Self-reported measures of voice using the VHI (30-item Voice Handicap Index), swallowing using the EAT-10 (10-item Eating Assessment Tool), functional oral intake scale using the FOIS (Functional Oral Intake Scale), and quality of life using the FACT-H&N (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Head & Neck) were assessed before FL and at 1, 3, and 6 months after FL. Mood states were evaluated using the POMS (Profile of Mood States, second edition), before FL and at 6 months after FL.

The study analyses included 20 patients (mean [SD] age, 72.4 (7.0) years; 19 [95%] males and 1 [5%] female) who underwent FL and had complete data across all time points. Among these, 12 patients (60%) had received chemoradiation for oropharyngeal, 7 (35%) for laryngeal, or 1 (5%) for nasopharyngeal cancer. The mean (SD) time from completion of oncologic treatment to FL was 15.5 (5.5) years. Mean (SD) score on the EAT-10 improved from 33.2 (7.4) to 23.1 (10.8) at 1 month; 12.1 (9.1) at 3 months; and 8.3 (7.4) at 6 months, with a large effect size (η2 = 0.72; 95% CI, 0.54-0.80). Mean (SD) score on the FOIS improved from 2.0 (1.5) to 2.9 (1.7) at 1 month; 4.8 (2.5) at 3 months; and 5.2 (1.7) at 6 months, with a large effect size (η2 = 0.6; 95% CI, 0.38-0.71). Improvement in oral intake was achieved in 19 patients (95%), and feeding tubes were removed in 10 of 16 patients (63%) who were feeding tube-dependent; 6 patients (27%) continued to require supplemental tube feedings. Mean (SD) score on the VHI improved from 63.6 (34.0) to 86.9 (33.7) at 1 month; 71.3 (36.1) at 3 months; and 39.7 (26.9) at 6 months, with a large effect size (η2 = 0.42; 95% CI, 0.19-0.56). Seventeen patients (85%) were able to use a tracheoesophageal voice prosthesis for alaryngeal communication. Mean (SD) score on the FACT-H&N improved from 86.2 (17.8) to 93.6 (18.4) at 1 month; 109.0 (18.4) at 3 months; and 121.0 (16.8) at 6 months, with a large effect size (η2 = 0.64; 95% CI, 0.42-0.74). Mean (SD) score on the POMS improved from 58.9 (13.2) at baseline to 44.5 (9.9) at 6 months, with a large effect size (Cohen d = 1.04; 95% CI, 0.48-1.57). None of the patients experienced major complications of FL; 1 patient (5%) had a postoperative pharyngocutaneous fistula.

The findings of this cohort study indicate that FL was associated with marked improvements in self-perception of voice and swallowing, functional oral intake, QoL, and mood state among survivors of HNC. These findings can serve as a framework for FL counseling among HNC survivors experiencing profound dysphagia and intractable aspiration.