Quality of life and gustatory and olfactory sensitivities in total laringectomizes.

Introduction: A therapeutic option to treat advanced laryngeal cancer is total laryngectomy, resulting in anatomical and functional changes that can affect taste and smell, and quality of life. Objective: To evaluate and compare the quality of life and gustatory and olfactory sensitivities in total laryngectomees, before and after surgery. Methods: The analyzed sample consisted of 20 individuals, with a mean age of 65.7 years, with indication of total laryngectomy to treat laryngeal cancer, who were evaluated before surgery (T1), and 15 individuals were reassessed after surgery (T2). The Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), the University of Washington Quality of Life Assessment Questionnaire with 12 domains, three general questions and an open question were applied. For the evaluation of olfactory sensitivity, isopropanol solutions were used at 0.2%, 1%, 3%, 7%, 13%, 20% and the evaluation of gustatory sensitivity was performed with the flavors: sweet, salty, bitter, acidic, umami and neutral. Results: Analyzing the quality of life, a difference was identified in the comparison of the "Palate" domain between T1 and T2 (p = 0.004). There was no difference in the total score of the quality of life questionnaire between participants at T1 and T2 (p = 0.298). When comparing the olfactory threshold, there was no difference between T1 and T2 (p <0.001), and when comparing the total score of the taste sensitivity test between T1 and T2, there was no difference (p = 0.565). Conclusion: The studied sample presented anosmia and hypogeusia after total laryngectomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]