Changes occurring in mucosal contractility of the inferior turbinate and mucociliary clearance following total laryngectomy: A prospective clinical trial.

Objective: In this study, changes occurring in the contractility capacity of the inferior turbinate and mucociliary clearance time due to the interruption of nasal air flow were examined.

Material & Methods: A total of 23 patients undergone total laryngectomy between June 2010 and June 2012 were included in the study. Acoustic rhinometry test was performed in the patients before and after 0.05% oxymetazoline nasal topical decongestant administration. In addition, saccharin test was applied in order to measure mucociliary clearance. The same measurements were repeated at the postoperative months 1, 6 and 12 and the data obtained were statistically compared.

Results: In evaluation of the patients' contractility capacity at MCA-1 and MCA-2, contractility capacity was found to be significantly decreased from the postoperative first month compared to the preoperative values. The contractility capacity at the postoperative 6th month was significantly lower than that of the postoperative first month. The contractility capacity at the postoperative 12th month was significantly lower than that of the postoperative 6th month. Mucociliary clearance time did not change significantly at the postoperative first month compared to the preoperative value, while this value was significantly decreased at the postoperative 6th month. No statistically significant difference was observed in mucociliary clearance between the postoperative 6th and 12th months.

Conclusion: Contractility capacity of the inferior turbinate decrease over time in patients undergoing total laryngectomy. This indicates that the dysfunction developing in the nasal mucosal structure in the chronical absence of nasal air flow may be resulted from the decreased choncal contractility.