Dysphagia is a common complication following total laryngectomy (TL), often necessitating repeat esophageal dilations to maintain swallowing function. To better define this risk, a retrospective study evaluated surgical and non-surgical factors associated with post-TL dysphagia in 787 patients. Over a median follow-up of 28.5 months, 212 patients (26.9%) reported dysphagia, and 131 (16.6%) required esophageal dilation.
Prior radiation (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 2.51), adjuvant radiation (aOR, 1.86), and tongue base resection (aOR, 2.14) were independently associated with postoperative clinical dysphagia. On univariable analysis, total pharyngectomy was linked to increased odds of dysphagia (OR, 1.83), while pedicled reconstruction exhibited a trend toward higher risk (OR, 1.38). Notably, prior radiation was the only factor independently associated with dysphagia severe enough to…
