Behavior of Logophoniatric Rehabilitation in Laryngectomized Patients

Abstract

Introduction: Laryngeal neoplasia is the most common type of cancer in the upper aerodigestive tract. In those cases in which the disease is very advanced, total laryngectomy is the most common intervention. After carrying out this intervention, patients lose their main instrument for social communication, their laryngeal voice, which causes a loss of their own identity. Being able to produce a new voice is one of the main objectives in the rehabilitation process.

Objective: Describe the behavior of logophoniatric rehabilitation in laryngectomized patients at the “Calixto García” General Hospital.

Methods: Observational, descriptive, ambispective study, in the period 2014-2023, with patients who underwent total laryngectomy, belonging to the Otorhinolaryngology service of the “Calixto García” General Hospital. The sample was made up of all patients who met the inclusion criteria, consisting of 48 patients.

Results: The age group from 60 to 69 years (47.9%) was most frequent, followed by those from 50 to 59 years (33.3%). 91.7% were smokers and 68.8% suffered from chronic alcoholism, high blood pressure predominated with 58.3%. 52.1% began their logophoniatric rehabilitation therapy late.

Conclusions: The late start of rehabilitation was present in most cases; this, together with the presence of pharyngocutaneous fistula, influenced the quality of communication.