Supraglottic laryngectomy

Abstract

This paper describes the experience with subtotal supraglottic laryngectomy for laryngeal carcinoma at the Department of Otolaryngology of the Tulane University School of Medicine. Of 36 patients, 32 (89%) had local control of diseases at one year. Of 27 patients followed up for at least three years, 22 (81%) are free of disease. Postoperative aspiration was the most frequent complication, but was a serious problem in only one patient. Because of the significant functional advantage of partial laryngectomy, the high rate of disease control, and an acceptable complication rate, we believe supraglottic laryngectomy is the procedure of choice for laryngeal carcinoma in selected patients.