Elective vs. emergency tracheotomy complications in advanced hypopharyngeal cancer

Squamous cell carcinoma of the hypopharyngeal region is a rare, aggressive disease with a poor prognosis and a high mortality rate, and represents up to 95% of all hypopharyngeal tumors. Patients with upper aerodigestive tract tumors can develop airway compromise before or during chemoradiotherapy. The present study aims to investigate the complication differences between elective tracheostomy and emergency-setting tracheostomy for patients with advanced hypopharyngeal squamous cell. The study group included 36 patients and analyzed the number and type of complications, functional outcomes and comparation of the laboratory testing in all the patients at 3 specific points (before tracheotomy, during the radiation therapy and at least 3 months after completion of radiation therapy). In addition, univariate analysis was performed in order to evaluate the prognosis of local control rates. The type and number of complications between elective and emergency-setting tracheostomy varied, but all the complications were resolved, and no hypoxic complications secondary to displacement of the tracheostomy tube or death cases related to the tracheostomy occurred. A total of 20/36 patients presented with complications, with 73% (16 patients) from the emergency tracheostomy cohort and 36% (4 patients) from the elective tracheostomy group. More than half of the elective tracheostomy (6/11 patients) responded favorably to the treatment, with a higher frequency than the patients with emergency tracheostomy (5/22 patients). The present study did not encounter significant statistical differences (P>0.05) of the treatment end-result regarding the type of tracheostomy performed, but the prediction analysis found for the patients aged under 60 years old, elective tracheostomy was associated with a higher chance of favorable treatment end result.