A
recent study by Goepfert and colleagues from the University of Texas MD
Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas; found that complications occurred in
approximately one-third of patients who had laryngectomy. Complications
occurred in 83 patients (34%) and included 3 deaths (1.2%). Wound complications
occurred in 53 patients (22%), and 34 were pharyngocutaneous fistulas.
Thirty-four patients (14%) were readmitted within 30 days.
These
complications were more common in those with poor wound-healing risk factors
such as prior smoking and radiation. Length of hospital stay was longer among
reconstructed patients. Readmission was associated with low albumin in the
serum and postoperative wound complications.
This
study highlights the need for improvement in patient care improvement and the need
to counsel high-risk patients undergoing laryngectomy.
