A Retrospective Study On The Assessment Of Dysphagia After Partial Laryngectomy

Objective: To retrospectively investigate the long-term swallowing function of patients with laryngeal carcinoma,who underwent partial laryngectomy,discuss the effectiveness and reliability of Kubota drinking test in the assessment of patients with dysphagia,who underwent partial laryngectomy,and analyze the influence of different ways of operation on swallowing function.Method: Retrospectively analyzed were clinical data on 83 patients with laryngeal carcinoma in Shanghai First People's Hospital(institute)line of otolaryngology head and neck,who underwent partial laryngectomy from September 2012 to August 2015.Questionnaire survey,Kubota drinking test and Videofluoroscopic swallowing study(VFSS)were conducted for patients during a scheduled interview.Patients were grouped by two ways: the one was whether epiglottis was retained,and the other was whether either arytenoids or both were reserved.The influence of different ways of operation on swallowing function was analyzed according to the results of Kubota drinking test.The agreement and reliability of Kubota drinking test were statistically analyzed with respect to VFSS treated as the “gold standard”.Results: Questionnaire results revealed that among 83 patients underwent partial laryngectomy 32.53% suffered from eating disorder,and 43.37% experienced painful swallowing.The incidence of dysphagia was showed to be 40.96% according to the results of Kubota drinking test.There was statistical difference between the group with epiglottis remained and that having epiglottis removed in terms of the absence of dysphagia and severity.Also,statistical difference existed between the groups with either and both arytenoids reserved in terms of the absence of dysphagia as well as that of intermediate severity.A certain degree of agreement and reliability were present between the results of Kubota drinkinging Test and VFSS.Conclusion:It was of considerable significance to reserve epiglottis and arytenoids for the retention of swallowing function for patients post partial laryngectomy.There were certain degree of agreement and reliability between the results of Kubota drinking test and VFSS.The test,therefore,could be used as a tool for screening patients suffering from dysphagia post partial laryngectomy.