Comparison of quality of life between voice rehabilitated and nonrehabilitated laryngectomies in a developing world community

Abstract

Conclusions: Quality of life (QOL) scores were significantly higher among voice rehabilitated patients although this was accompanied by significant immediate and long-term morbidity and a cost implication for the patient. Objective: We present a prospective and cross-over study of overall QOL and morbidity related to voice restoration in laryngectomees. Methods: The EORTC QOL questionnaire (QLQ–C30 and QLQ-H&N-35) was distributed among all the consenting patients alive after laryngectomy from January 2008 to October 2009. In patients who had secondary voice rehabilitation, post-rehabilitation QOL scores were collected separately. Comparison of QOL between the non-rehabilitated and rehabilitated cohorts was done and a cross-over study of pre-rehabilitation and post-rehabilitation scores were done in the second cohort. Results: A total of 113 patients were studied. QOL scores were significantly higher among voice rehabilitated patients.

Keywords::

• Post-laryngectomy voice rehabilitation
• outcome
• complications

Acknowledgments

We wish to thank the Kerala State Council for Science Technology and Environment (KSCSTE) for the research grant and Ms Rekha for secretarial assistance in the preparation of the manuscript.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.