No abstract

The current study retro specti vely review ed the cases of 68 patient s who had undergone total laryn gectomy and tracheoesophageal pun cture (TEP) ove r a lo-year period. Fifty-one patients under went p rimary TEP and i 7 underw ent seconda ry TEP. Nearly 80% of pati ents who received TEP at the time of laryngectomy achieved excellent voice quality perceptu ally. in contrast, only 50% of secondary TEP patients achieved excellent voice ratings. This diff erence was statistically robust (p = 0.03). A lthough both surgical and prosthesis-related comp lications occurred more fre quently fo llo wing prim ary TEp, statistically significant differences were not achieved. Neith er pre-nor p ostoperati ve radi oth erapy had any effe ct on voice restoration or complication rates. Based on thes e data, p rimary TEP may be pref erable fo r several reasons, ineluding a greater likelihood ofsuccessful voice restorati on, a sho rter duration ofpostoperat ive aphonia, and the elimination ofthe needf or a second opera tion and interim tube f eedin gs.

This study demonstrates the need for more uniformity and standardization in the definitions used for reporting hypocalcemia rates.

Volume 113 Number 2 Scientific Sessions --Monday P51 for tumor removal, carotid artery management, and cranial nerve preservation will be demonstrated through case presentation. Perioperative morbidity and overall results will be detailed for this series of patients.

Following appropriate surgical management, the majority of patients with low-risk local disease and even some patients with more advanced-stage (pT3) tumors or regional metastases have low rates of recurrence and high rates of survival when managed without RRA.