OBJECTIVETo discuss the longterm quality-of-life related to swallowing function after different partial laryngectomy.

METHODSThe worldwide known swallow quality-of-life questionnaire (SWAL-QOL, Hongkong, Chinese edition); was used in this research to evaluate the swallowing QOL on 96 postoperative patients who underwent different kinds of partial laryngectomy more than one year before. The patients were divided into 4 groups: supracricoid partial laryngectomy-cricohyoidopexy (SCPL-CHP), supracricoid partial laryngectomy-cricohyoidoepiglottopexy (SCPL-CHEP), horizontal supraglottic partial laryngectomy (horizontal PL), and vertical partial laryngectomy (vertical PL).

RESULTSA one-way MANOVA revealed a significant multivariate (the 11 scales of SWAL-QOL) main effect for groups (P < 0.01), and significant univariate main effects were obtained for groups in 9 scales out of 11 (P < 0.01). In all the 9 scales vertical PL group acquired near full scores except the communication scale, and was significantly higher than the other 3 groups in many scales (P < 0.05). CHP group acquired the worst scores of the 4 groups, showing significant differences in most of the 9 scales (P < 0.05). No significant difference was found between Horizontal PL and CHEP except in communication (P > 0.05). Patients with deglutition disorders (choke/cough) had a lower score in the social function scale.

CONCLUSIONSSwallowing quality-of-life of postoperative patients was deeply influenced even when more than one year had passed after surgery. Some of them felt deeply burdened by deglutition disorder. Patients after CHP proved to have a worst quality of life than the others, while vertical PL the best. The QOL between Horizontal PL and CHEP was shown to be almost the same. The influence over QOL from longterm dysphagia was multi-dimensional, containing the degeneration of social function.