[Etiologic considerations of postlaryngectomy dysphagia].

Unlabelled: Dysphagia following laryngeal surgery is a common and severe symptom. Two life-threatening complications can compromise the patiens quality of life: pneumonia and malnutrition. Diagnostic procedures of swallowing disorders are represented by videofluoroscopic evaluation, CT scan and fiberoptics endoscopy.

Material And Methods: A retrospective evaluation was performed in a sample of 261 patients undergoing laryngectomy, hospitalized in the E.N.T Clinic of "St. Spiridon" Hospital, between 2006 and 2010. Postlaryngectomy dysphagia was diagnosed in 74 patients and was predominant in males (97.3%) aged between 50 and 60 years (37.8%).

Results: Main causes of dysphagia were pharingocutaneous fistulas, tumor recurrences, postoperative cervical infections and hipopharyngeal stenosis.

Conclusions: This study reveled the predominance of dyphagia in rural male patients undergoing total laryngectomy. Gastroesophageal reflux can represents a favoring factor of this type of dysphagia.