Question

A 55-year-old patient comes with hoarseness of voice and difficulty swallowing. The patient was diagnosed with laryngeal carcinoma, and surgical management was done. The post-operative image of the patient is given below. Which of the following surgery was done on this patient?

• A. Partial laryngectomy
• B. Percutaneous tracheostomy
• C. Standard tracheostomy
• D. Total laryngectomy

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

To determine which surgery was performed on the patient, let's consider the context and typical outcomes of each surgical option mentioned:

• Partial laryngectomy: This procedure involves the removal of part of the larynx and is typically used when the cancer is localized and small. Post-operatively, the patient usually retains some speech and airway passage through the mouth or nose.
• Percutaneous tracheostomy: This is a procedure where an opening is created in the trachea to facilitate breathing, usually performed at the bedside for patients with prolonged mechanical ventilation. It does not typically address laryngeal carcinoma.
• Standard tracheostomy: Similar to a percutaneous tracheostomy, this is where a stoma (opening) is created in the trachea to allow for breathing. It is not a corrective surgery for laryngeal cancer.
• Total laryngectomy: Involves the complete removal of the larynx, leading to a complete loss of natural voice and creation of a stoma at the front of the neck (tracheostomy) for breathing. This is a common surgery for advanced laryngeal carcinoma and aligns with the post-operative condition described (hoarseness and swallowing difficulty).

Given the patient's post-operative condition and the need for a significant surgical intervention due to laryngeal carcinoma, the total laryngectomy is the most likely procedure performed. This surgery removes the entire larynx and separates the airway from the mouth, requiring the patient to breathe through a stoma permanently.

The post-operative image and symptoms described corroborate with this procedure.