Transoral Carbon Dioxide Microsurgery of the Larynx as a Day-Case Outpatient Procedure: An Observational, Retrospective, Single-Center Study

Abstract

Introduction: Despite good results of transoral laser CO2 microsurgery (CO2TOLMS) of the larynx, a lack of data related to the safety of this technique as a day-case procedure across the literature is evident. Materials and Methods: An observational, retrospective, non-randomized study. Results: One hundred four (62.6%) patients met the inclusion criteria, 96 (92.3%) patients were male, and 8 (7.7%) patients were female. The mean age of the study group was 66 ± 11 years (min: 34/max: 90). All the patients underwent CO2TOLMS were treated as an outpatient procedure. The glottis was the most common location affecting 97 (93.3%) patients, regarding the need of readmission, just 4 (3.8%) patients needed to be readmitted after surgery due to dyspnea secondary to laryngeal edema in 2 cases by laryngeal bleeding, and cervical emphysema in one case, respectively. Being just necessary to reintubate 1 patient (<1%) to control the bleeding. We didn’t find any statistical correlation between variables and the need for readmission of reintubation. Conclusion: According to our results, CO2TOLMS of the larynx can be safely performed as an outpatient procedure. To establish a proper protocol and to perform a careful preoperative assessment are essential to increase our success rate and to prevent any potential complication.