[Surgical methods of treating patients with laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancer in Szczecin's EMT University Department during the years 1970-2002]

Abstract

In the thesis are presented surgical methods of treating larynx and hypopharynx cancer used in the Szczecin Clinic throughout more than 30 years, i.e. between 1970 and 2002. During this period in the Szczecin center 2591 patients ill of larynx cancer underwent surgical treatments. In the analysed period was recorder an increase in: a) the number of patients suffering from larynx and hypopharynx cancer, b) patients' average age, c) percentage of larynx cancer sick rate in females in relation to males and d) the number of patients with advanced stage of disease. Predominant with the patients were supraglottic cancers, however in the recent years there was an increase in the number of glottic cancer patients. In the years 1970-1980 prevailed partial laryngectomies and total laryngectomies were performed sporadically. In the next decade, what became noticeable was a drop in operations with creation of autoplastic vocal shunt and a growth in the number of partial operations with the preservation of respiratory way. In the last decade there was also an increase in the number of operations of total laryngectomies and a decrease in the number of partial operations, whereas the number of performed subtotal operations with the reconstruction of phonatory functions remained at the same level. Oncological and functional results assessed both subjectively and objectively after all kinds of laryngectomies were satisfactory. In the thesis attention was also paid to surgical methods elaborated in the Clinic, which substantially contributed to the progress in surgical treatment of larynx cancer as well as to improvements in revalidation of the phonatory function and its quality with patients after total, subtotal and partial removal of larynx structures.