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Comparative Study of Vocal Function After Near‐Total Laryngectomy
Author(s) -
Hanamitsu Masakazu,
Kataoka Hideyuki,
Takeuchi Eiji,
Kitajima Kazutomo
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
the laryngoscope
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.181
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1531-4995
pISSN - 0023-852X
DOI - 10.1097/00005537-199908000-00026
Subject(s) - phonation , laryngectomy , medicine , audiology , electroglottograph , larynx , surgery
Objectives: To assess vocal function after near‐total laryngectomy (NTL) and to compare that with after vertical hemilaryngectomy (VHL), both of which use the laryngeal mucosa as the vibratory tissue. Study Design: We retrospectively evaluated 29 patients, 11 of whom underwent NTL and 18 of whom underwent VHL. However, 2 patients failed to speak and 1 patient's voice sample was lost following NTL, so we analyzed the voices of 8 patients who underwent NTL and 18 patients who underwent VHL. Methods: Vocal function was examined by acoustic and aerodynamic analysis. Acoustic analysis involved the evaluation of pitch, intensity, pitch perturbation quotient, amplitude perturbation quotient, and normalized noise energy. In aerodynamic analysis, we studied the mean airflow rate, vocal efficiency index (alternating current/direct current [AC/DC]), and maximum phonation time. Results: Vocal function except pitch after either NTL or VHL had much variability, but the results following each procedure did not differ significantly. Conclusions: There are no significant differences between vocal function following NTL and VHL. Fiberscopic examination of the mucosa of the arytenoid was observed to vibrate in patients who underwent NTL, so that the phonatory mechanism after NTL resembled that after VHL.