AUTHOR=Hans Stéphane , Baudouin Robin , Circiu Marta P. , Couineau Florent , Rigal Tiffany , Remacle Marc J. , De Vito Andrea , Cammaroto Giovanni , Crevier-Buchman Lise , Lechien Jérôme R. TITLE=One hundred fifty years of total laryngectomies JOURNAL=Frontiers in Oncology VOLUME=14 YEAR=2024 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/oncology/articles/10.3389/fonc.2024.1351549 DOI=10.3389/fonc.2024.1351549 ISSN=2234-943X ABSTRACT=

The inaugural total laryngectomy in history was conducted by Billroth in 1873. Nevertheless, significant enhancements to the technique were achieved through the contributions of Gluck, Sorensen, and various other surgeons. Throughout the twentieth century, advancements in anesthesia, infectious disease, hospital hygiene, antibiotic therapy, resuscitation, and the expertise of numerous laryngologists elevated total laryngectomy to a pivotal surgical intervention in head and neck surgery. The latter half of the twentieth century witnessed a paradigm shift with the emergence of organ preservation protocols. Total laryngectomy became the preferred choice for patients experiencing radiotherapy failure. However, the widespread use of laryngeal conservative treatments appears to be correlated with a decline in overall survival rates in the United States and Europe. The evolution of new minimally invasive surgical approaches in the twenty-first century may usher in a revolutionary era in the management of laryngeal carcinoma, offering the potential for improved survival and functional outcomes.