[Critical study and role of partial vertical reconstructive laryngectomies with epiglottoplasty by the Tucker method. Apropos of 18 cases]. / Etude critique et place des laryngectomies partielles verticales reconstructives avec épiglottoplastie selon la méthode de Tucker. A propos de 18 cas.

Two groups could be distinguished in a series of 18 patients with glottic lesions: one with pure glottic tumors (12 cases) and the other with tumors extending beyond the glottic region (6 cases). All patients but one were operated upon by first intention for epidermoid carcinoma, but also for associated pronounced dysplasia. The so-called Tucker technique was used with slight modifications (less extensive resection of thyroid cartilage, conservation of the two arytenoid cartilages). The postoperative course was satisfactory with decanulation and ablation on the 13th day, and a mean hospital stay of 22 days. Two postoperative deaths due to vascular complications occurred and one patient developed a swinging epiglottis after 2 years. The remaining 16 patients are all alive, including 8 after less than 3 years. Analogous results were noted in an analysis of a total of 93 case-reports from 5 different series of patients. This method provides an elegant and satisfactory repair of pure cordal surgery, but adds nothing from the oncologic point of view since other better adapted and currently well defined operations have to be envisaged for lesions extending beyond this region.