[The effects of pharyngeal neurectomy and cricopharyngeal myotomy on postoperative deglutition in patients undergoing horizontal supraglottic laryngectomy].

Objectives: We compared the effects of pharyngeal neurectomy (PN) and cricopharyngeal myotomy (CPM) on postoperative deglutition in patients undergoing horizontal supraglottic laryngectomy (HSL).

Patients And Methods: The study included 20 male patients (mean age 53 years; range 39 to 67 years) who underwent HSL for squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx. Tumor stages were T1 in two, T2 in 16 , and T3 in two patients. None had received radiotherapy before surgery. In order to decrease cricopharyngeal muscle spasm following HSL, the patients were randomly chosen for CPM (n=11) and PN (n=9). The two groups were compared with respect to the time to postoperative oral food intake.

Results: No significant difference was found with respect to the time to postoperative oral feeding (mean 27 days, range 16 to 45 days in the CPM group; mean 25 days, range 16 to 36 days in the PN group; p>0.05). No significant relationship existed between primary tumor stages and the time to oral feeding (p>0.05). No complications were encountered in the two patient groups.

Conclusion: In supraglottic partial laryngectomies, PN seems to be as effective as CPM to decrease postoperative cricopharyngeal muscle spasm, with additional advantages of ease and safety.