The impact of diabetes mellitus on postoperative morbidity in laryngeal surgery.

The main aim of this study was to analyse risk factors of postoperative morbidity after extended laryngeal surgery comparing patients with diabetes mellitus and non-diabetic patients. In retrospective study 69 patients (63 male and 6 female), who underwent partial laryngo-pharyngectomy and total laryngectomy between 2003 and 2004, were evaluated. 13 % of the total group of examined patients had concurrent diabetes, while 87% were nondiabetic patients. We performed partial laryngopharyngectomy in 39 out of 69 patients (56.5%) and total laryngectomy in 30 patients (43.5%). Secondary wound infections (88.9%) and pharyngocutaneus fistula (44.5%) had a significantly higher rate in diabetic patients (p<0.001). Among diabetics the cases with intraoperative or postoperative blood transfusions were more frequent--44.4%(p<0.001). Diabetic patients with laryngectomy procedures had more frequently prolonged postoperative anemia (55.5%, p<0.001) and electrolitic disbalance (66.6%, p<0.001). Our results have confirmed that diabetes mellitus is an important independent general clinical factor, which increases postoperative morbidity and hospitalization time in laryngeal surgery. Our data indicate the need to make a very serious plan and clinical assesment for laryngeal surgical therapy in diabetic patients.