From April 1998 to May 2000, 14 patients with supraglottic cancer underwent transoral laser surgery (T-stage T1-2: 11 patients, T3: 3 patients). In three patients, an epiglottectomy or hemi-epiglottectomy was performed. In 11 patients, further structures (false cords, the valleculae and the base of the tongue and/or parts of the arytenoid cartilage) had to be resected. Thirteen patients had to undergo neck dissection and post-operative irradiation. Tracheostomy was carried out prophylactically in two cases. Every patient received a nasogastric tube perioperatively. One week after surgery, an evaluation of dysphagia was performed by video endoscopy (VEED). Aspiration was the main problem; in no case did dysphagia occur. The aspiration was graded according to videolaryngoscopical classification. Four patients had an occasional and ten patients a permanent aspiration after surgery. According to this assessment, an individual deglutition therapy management was established. Ten patients with permanent aspiration received a temporary percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) and were integrated in a rehabilitation programme (stimulation of the swallowing reflex, training of compensatory swallowing manoeuvres, dietary regime). Due to this training programme, the PEG could be removed in eight patients after 2-9 months. No patient needed a laryngectomy or a tracheostomy due to aspiration. There were no cases of aspiration-associated pneumonia. To obtain satisfying functional results after transoral laser surgery of supraglottic cancers with resection of the epiglottis, post-operative deglutition management, consisting of video endoscopy, a training programme and often a PEG, is necessary.

It may be concluded that intraoperative electrophysiological monitoring of the RLN is a simple and accepted method with low complications reducing the incidence of permanent RLN palsy rate. We found the monitoring especially useful for operations of recurrent goiter and carcinomas of the thyroid gland as well as for learning thyroid gland surgery.

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