A study of the pharynx after laryngectomy

The hypopharyngeal anatomy of 20 post-laryngectomy patients was studied both with endoscopy and radiological contrast medium examination. The pharynx was found to be essentially a featureless tube with mucosal rugosities running along its axis. No correlation was found between the endoscopic and radiological appearance of the pseudoepiglottis, or between its presence and post-operative complications or the acquisition of oesophageal speech. A low incidence of post-operative dysphagia was noted. The RPS ratio for normal patients was calculated.