Early versus Delayed Oral Feeding Post Total Laryngectomy and Relation to trachea-esophageal Fistula Formation

Abstract

L aryngeal cancer is no doubt a disease of high morbidity and also mortality as it threats the airway patency and most of times presented at late stages. Squamous cell carcinoma is the main type of laryngeal carcinoma. It is usually caused by prolonged laryngeal mucosa irritation which induces the transformation of normal cells into malignant cells. Tobacco smoking is the main factor contributing to the development of laryngeal carcinoma, among other risk factors are; alcohol abuse, HPV infection, genetic predisposition and positive family history, exposure to irritant occupational fumes and long standing gastric acid reflux.