A clinical survey of laryngectomy patients to detect presence of the false perception of an intact larynx or the "phantom larynx" phenomenon

Hypothesis: The Phantom larynx phenomenon (the false perception on an intact larynx in a laryngectomee) exists and is an important issue in the post-laryngectomy rehabilitation of such patients. Objectives: The phantom limb phenomenon has been described after amputation of a limb or other parts of t...

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Main Authors: Pankaj Chaturvedi, Prashant V Pawar, Suhail Syed, Deepa Nair, Sourav Dutta, Devendra Chaukar, Anil K D′Cruz
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Thieme Medical and Scientific Publishers Pvt. Ltd. 2013-01-01
Series:Indian Journal of Medical and Paediatric Oncology
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.ijmpo.org/article.asp?issn=0971-5851;year=2013;volume=34;issue=1;spage=3;epage=7;aulast=Chaturvedi
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author Pankaj Chaturvedi
Prashant V Pawar
Suhail Syed
Deepa Nair
Sourav Dutta
Devendra Chaukar
Anil K D′Cruz
author_facet Pankaj Chaturvedi
Prashant V Pawar
Suhail Syed
Deepa Nair
Sourav Dutta
Devendra Chaukar
Anil K D′Cruz
author_sort Pankaj Chaturvedi
collection DOAJ
description Hypothesis: The Phantom larynx phenomenon (the false perception on an intact larynx in a laryngectomee) exists and is an important issue in the post-laryngectomy rehabilitation of such patients. Objectives: The phantom limb phenomenon has been described after amputation of a limb or other parts of the body. Amputation or removal of any part is usually associated with a global feeling that the missing part is still present. We undertook this study to identify whether a phantom larynx phenomenon actually exists in laryngectomees. We also aimed to elicit its association with the duration following surgery. Patients and Methods: We did a clinical survey of 66 post-laryngectomy patients (30-80 years of age). Twenty-two of these patients were assessed within 6 months following surgery, whereas 44 patients were assessed at least 6 months later. A questionnaire containing 11 questions was served to these laryngectomees pertaining to false perception of persistent laryngeal functions and adaptation to the post-laryngectomy status. Results: All patients showed an evidence of a phantom larynx phenomenon. In the majority of these patients, it persisted even after 6 months following surgery. There was no significant difference in the two groups (less than or more than 6 months) except for one question pertaining to occlusion of stoma for speech (77% vs. 29%). False perception of nasal breathing (59% and 43%) and olfactory sensation (63% in both groups) were the most common. Conclusion: Phantom larynx phenomenon following laryngectomy exists and may cause anxiety and poor rehabilitation among patients. Education and rehabilitation with regards to such a phenomenon is therefore needed in all patients.
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spelling doaj-art-1f20d8a0c0b04841863e10920dabd53b2025-08-20T02:56:51ZengThieme Medical and Scientific Publishers Pvt. Ltd.Indian Journal of Medical and Paediatric Oncology0971-58512013-01-013413710.4103/0971-5851.113394A clinical survey of laryngectomy patients to detect presence of the false perception of an intact larynx or the "phantom larynx" phenomenonPankaj ChaturvediPrashant V PawarSuhail SyedDeepa NairSourav DuttaDevendra ChaukarAnil K D′CruzHypothesis: The Phantom larynx phenomenon (the false perception on an intact larynx in a laryngectomee) exists and is an important issue in the post-laryngectomy rehabilitation of such patients. Objectives: The phantom limb phenomenon has been described after amputation of a limb or other parts of the body. Amputation or removal of any part is usually associated with a global feeling that the missing part is still present. We undertook this study to identify whether a phantom larynx phenomenon actually exists in laryngectomees. We also aimed to elicit its association with the duration following surgery. Patients and Methods: We did a clinical survey of 66 post-laryngectomy patients (30-80 years of age). Twenty-two of these patients were assessed within 6 months following surgery, whereas 44 patients were assessed at least 6 months later. A questionnaire containing 11 questions was served to these laryngectomees pertaining to false perception of persistent laryngeal functions and adaptation to the post-laryngectomy status. Results: All patients showed an evidence of a phantom larynx phenomenon. In the majority of these patients, it persisted even after 6 months following surgery. There was no significant difference in the two groups (less than or more than 6 months) except for one question pertaining to occlusion of stoma for speech (77% vs. 29%). False perception of nasal breathing (59% and 43%) and olfactory sensation (63% in both groups) were the most common. Conclusion: Phantom larynx phenomenon following laryngectomy exists and may cause anxiety and poor rehabilitation among patients. Education and rehabilitation with regards to such a phenomenon is therefore needed in all patients.http://www.ijmpo.org/article.asp?issn=0971-5851;year=2013;volume=34;issue=1;spage=3;epage=7;aulast=ChaturvediLaryngectomyphantom larynx phenomenonphantom limbpost-laryngectomy rehabilitationquestionnaire
spellingShingle Pankaj Chaturvedi
Prashant V Pawar
Suhail Syed
Deepa Nair
Sourav Dutta
Devendra Chaukar
Anil K D′Cruz
A clinical survey of laryngectomy patients to detect presence of the false perception of an intact larynx or the "phantom larynx" phenomenon
Indian Journal of Medical and Paediatric Oncology
Laryngectomy
phantom larynx phenomenon
phantom limb
post-laryngectomy rehabilitation
questionnaire
title A clinical survey of laryngectomy patients to detect presence of the false perception of an intact larynx or the "phantom larynx" phenomenon
title_full A clinical survey of laryngectomy patients to detect presence of the false perception of an intact larynx or the "phantom larynx" phenomenon
title_fullStr A clinical survey of laryngectomy patients to detect presence of the false perception of an intact larynx or the "phantom larynx" phenomenon
title_full_unstemmed A clinical survey of laryngectomy patients to detect presence of the false perception of an intact larynx or the "phantom larynx" phenomenon
title_short A clinical survey of laryngectomy patients to detect presence of the false perception of an intact larynx or the "phantom larynx" phenomenon
title_sort clinical survey of laryngectomy patients to detect presence of the false perception of an intact larynx or the phantom larynx phenomenon
topic Laryngectomy
phantom larynx phenomenon
phantom limb
post-laryngectomy rehabilitation
questionnaire
url http://www.ijmpo.org/article.asp?issn=0971-5851;year=2013;volume=34;issue=1;spage=3;epage=7;aulast=Chaturvedi
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