An observational study of olfactory functions in total laryngectomees

To evaluate the olfactory acuity and quality of life in patients who have undergone total laryngectomy. The study also aims to identify any specific patient-related risk factors linked to worse olfactory outcomes.

This is a prospective cross-sectional study conducted at the University Malaya Medical Centre. A total of 30 patients who have undergone total laryngectomy were assessed objectively using the Sniffin’ Sticks test and compared against normal age-matched Malaysians. Subsequently, they also filled out the modified Questionnaire on Olfactory Disorders. Correlations of patient demographics, disease and treatment variables against olfactory outcomes were conducted.

All subjects suffered olfactory impairment, with 66.7% of them being anosmic after total laryngectomy. The Sniffin’ Sticks test demonstrated a statistically significant difference between laryngectomees and the normal age-matched Malaysian population in all three subtests for odor threshold, discrimination and identification. 37% of patients developed olfactory adaptive methods, which resulted in higher olfactory scores and a better quality of life. There were no patient demographics, disease or treatment variables associated with a poorer olfactory outcome identified.

Olfactory impairment should not be overlooked among patients after total laryngectomy. Although as many as a third of patients developed some sort of olfactory adaptive behavior, early rehabilitation should be integrated into the multidisciplinary rehabilitation program after total laryngectomy.