Common complications after laryngeal cancer surgery

For the treatment of laryngeal cancer, many people choose surgical treatment in the early stage. It is a commonly used method to treat the disease. Since surgical treatment has risks and some complications may occur after surgery, we need to understand the postoperative complications in order to prevent them. So, what are the common complications after laryngeal cancer surgery? Let's take a look at the experts' introduction.

Based on clinical treatment experience, experts have summarized the following common complications after laryngeal cancer surgery:

1. Difficulty in eating: Within a few days after the operation, the patient cannot eat or drink. At first, fluids are supplemented intravenously, and the digestive tract returns to normal after one to two days, but the patient still cannot swallow because the throat has not healed. Fluids and nutrients can be injected into the stomach through the nasogastric tube reserved during the operation. When the swelling of the throat subsides and the wound gradually heals, the nasogastric tube can be removed. Swallowing is difficult at the beginning, and the patient may need to resume regular eating little by little under the guidance of a nurse or speech pathologist.

2. Dry breath: Usually, air enters the airway after being humidified by the nasal cavity and the throat cavity. However, after surgery, the air enters the trachea directly through the tracheostomy and is not humidified. In the hospital, patients can use a special humidification device to humidify the air entering the stoma.

3. Increased sputum: After surgery, the lungs and trachea will produce a lot of sputum. The nurse will use an aspirator to suck out the sputum in the cannula through a plastic tube. Gradually, the patient can cough and suck out sputum without the help of the nurse. For a period of time after surgery, it is also necessary to suck out the saliva in the mouth in time, because the swelling of the throat prevents the swallowing of saliva.

4. Complications of partial laryngectomy: For patients who have undergone partial laryngectomy, they will breathe through the tracheotomy tube for a few days after the operation. Then the tracheal tube will be removed and the stoma will be closed. The patient can breathe and speak like a normal person, although the sound produced is not as perfect as before.

5. Complications of total resection: For patients with total laryngectomy, the tracheostomy is permanent. Patients breathe and cough through the tracheostomy and have to learn new ways of speaking. The tracheal tube must be left in place for at least several weeks until the skin incision around the stoma heals and the tube can be removed. Some patients also have to wear the tube for a period of time or for life. If the tracheal tube is removed, it will be replaced with a tracheostomy button. After a period of time, some patients can no longer rely on the tracheal tube and tracheostomy button. Part of the neck skin may be numb after laryngectomy because the nerves in the corresponding part are cut during the operation. If the neck lymph nodes are cleared during the operation, the shoulders and neck may become weak and stiff.