[Age and complications after laryngectomy].

Between 1989-1999, 573 patients (501 male and 72 female) with laryngeal cancer underwent laryngectomy in the Otolaryngological Clinic of the Medical University in Bydgoszcz. The age varied from 32 to 88 years (mean age--56.5 years). The aim of the investigations was the analysis of correlation between age and postoperative complications after laryngectomy. The greatest percentage of fever as a postoperative complication was observed in the youngest group of patients. The least number of pharyngo-cutaneous fistulae occurred in the group of patients older than 65 years. Both relationships were not statistically significant. The numbers of other complications were almost similar in all groups related to age. The results of our investigation suggest, that the advanced age as a sole factor (without additional diseases of circulatory or respiratory organ, or neurological diseases) is not a contraindication for surgical treatment of laryngeal cancer.