Subjective and objective evaluation of voice and pulmonary function in partial laryngectomised patients

Early-stage laryngeal cancers may be treated with partial surgery thanks to advances in diagnosis and surgery. The aim of our study is to compare the degree of voice disorders and respiratory function between healthy volunteers and patients that underwent a partial laryngectomy surgery. 30 patients who underwent partial laryngectomy due to laryngeal cancer and 30 healthy volunteers were included in the study. Voice analysis was made via vocal assessment computer program. The participants filled voice handicap index. In addition, an otorhinolaryngologist assessed the roughness, hoarseness and breathiness parameters of voice. Each patient underwent pulmonary function test for pulmonary function. In people underwent to partial laryngectomy, shimmer value, F0 value in cordectomies, jitter value in cordectomy, frontolateral and supracricoid groups were observed to be statistically increased compared to control group (p<0.05). Maximum phonation time was observed to be decreased in all partial surgery (p<0.05). While pathology was observed in pulmonary function test in 50% patients in post-surgery period, it was observed that the most affected group was supracricoid laryngectomy. Voice and respiratory problems in partial surgery still constitute a problem for surgeries. In this study, we found that even though patients have adequate pulmonary function, they have an inferior voice quality with regard to their own perception.