Long-term prognosis of vertical partial laryngectomy in elderly patients

Abstract

There have been no reports of long-term follow-up of vertical partial laryngectomy for elderly patients. We investigated the long-term survival rate and laryngeal dysfunction-free survival of such patients. Twenty cases aged 70 years or older who underwent surgery from January 1992 to December 2007 were examined retrospectively from their medical records. The median age was 73 years and the median follow-up period was 87 months. The overall survival rate was 73/55％ at 5 years / 10 years, and the laryngeal dysfunction-free survival was 69/44％ at 5 years / 10 years. There were no cases in which laryngeal functions of speaking and eating could not be preserved. No cases required hospitalization for aspiration pneumonia, laryngectomy, or tracheostomy.