%0 Observational Study
%T An observational study of olfactory functions in total laryngectomees.
%A Bee CY
%A Ahmad TEBTN
%A Lim CC
%A Bakar MZBA
%J Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol
%V 281
%N 5
%D 2024 May 6
%M 38446256
%F 3.236
%R 10.1007/s00405-024-08514-2
%X <B>OBJECTIVE: </B>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.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>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.<BR><B>RESULTS: </B>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.<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>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.