Abstract
Laryngectomy is usually associated with olfactory dysfunction. How do laryngectomees personally experience and feel about this change? In cooperation with the Bundesverband der Kehlkopfoperierten (German Association of Throat Cancer Patients) and together with laryngectomized patients, anew questionnaire was created and distributed via the regional offices according to the population sizes of the federal states (n = 293) for the first time in spring 2018. The questionnaire covers patient characteristics and daily life without alarynx, as well as the specific areas of smell and taste, albeit without differentiation between ortho- and retronasal olfaction. The items were designed to be answered using patient-friendly visual rating scales, multiple-choice answers, and free text. Return rate was 198/293 (67.6%). Median age of all participants was 69years (48-88). Overall life situation was rated by 99/198 (50%) participants as "good" or "very good." The primary subjective impairment for the patients was loss of voice (137/198, 69.1%) and loss of olfaction (113/198, 59.1%). Adaption to life without a larynx has been completed within a maximum of 3years for 161/198 (81.3%) patients. Principally, 127/198 (64.1%) affirmed being able to smell and 176 of 198 (88.9%) being able to taste; however, only 29/198 (14.6%) rated their sense of smell and 109/198 (55.1%) their sense of taste as "good" or "very good." Most frequently detected smell sensations were perfume (141), smoke (126), and feces (99). Univariate analysis showed asignificant (p < 0.05) correlation between adaptation time <1year and current subjective smell and taste. Subjective loss of smell and taste after laryngectomy is adaily problem for patients in Germany, which should be focused on promptly and included in early rehabilitation strategies.
Published Version
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