Laryngectomy

Laryngectomy is a procedure used to remove the larynx (voice box) completely or partially to treat laryngeal cancer, severe injuries or damage due to radiation treatment. It is performed under general anesthesia and the surgery takes 5 to 9 hours. Your surgeon makes an incision in your neck to expose the larynx. The larynx along with the surrounding tissues and lymph nodes are removed. Your surgeon will then make a hole in your neck (stoma) and your trachea is connected to this hole for breathing after the surgery. The incisions are then closed with the help of sutures. Sometimes your surgeon may insert a small hole in the wind pipe and an artificial voice box is inserted to help you speak.

Like all surgeries, laryngectomy may also be associated with a few side effects such as infection, leakage around the artificial voice box, damage to the surrounding organs, hematoma (buildup of blood outside blood vessels), difficulty in eating, swallowing and speaking and constriction of the stoma.