Complications, hospital length of stay, and readmission after total laryngectomy

BACKGROUNDThe purpose of this study was to describe the 30-day incidence of complications after total laryngectomy (TL) in a high-volume institution and their impact on the hospital length of stay (LOS) and readmission rates. METHODSA retrospective cohort study of all patients who underwent TL at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center from January 1, 2010 through June 30, 2013 was conducted. The patient demographics, treatment history, LOS, and 30-day post-TL complications and readmissions were extracted from the medical record. Univariate associations were analyzed, and stepwise backward selection methods were used to fit multivariate models. RESULTSTwo hundred forty-five patients were included. Complications occurred in 83 patients (33.9%) and included 3 deaths (1.2%). Wound complications occurred in 53 patients (21.6%), and 34 were pharyngocutaneous fistulas (PCFs; 13.9% overall). Thirty-four patients (13.9%) were readmitted within 30 days. A multivariate analysis revealed the following: wound complications were associated with former (odds ratio [OR], 5.1; P=.03) and current smokers (OR, 5.8; P=.02), PCFs were associated with prior wide-field radiation (OR, 3.1; P=.01) but not prior narrow-field (larynx-only) radiation (OR, 1.4; P=.61), LOS was associated with the type of flap (P=.002) and postoperative hematomas (P=.05), and readmissions were associated with preoperative hypoalbuminemia (P=.003) and postoperative wound complications (P<.001). CONCLUSIONSComplications occurred in approximately one-third of TL patients and particularly in patients with poor wound-healing risk factors such as prior smoking and radiation. As expected, LOS was longer among reconstructed patients. Readmission was associated with hypoalbuminemia and postoperative wound complications. These data can inform quality improvement efforts and the counseling of high-risk patients undergoing TL. Cancer 2017;123:1760-1767. (c) 2016 American Cancer Society. Wound complications, including pharyngocutaneous fistulas, occur in approximately one-third of patients undergoing primary and salvage total laryngectomy (particularly smokers and patients with prior wide-field radiation); the length of stay is, as expected, longer among reconstructed patients; and readmission is associated with preoperative hypoalbuminemia and postoperative wound complications. These data are intended to inform quality improvement efforts, assist with risk stratification, and aid in the counseling of patients undergoing total laryngectomy.