Quality of life after laryngectomy: are functional disabilities important?
Though the loss of voice is disabling, the functional limitations caused by a laryngectomy do not necessarily translate into a worse overall QOL. Future research is needed to determine whether the importance of individual QOL domains changes as patients adjust to the experience of having and surviving cancer.
Geriatric patients on general inpatient psychiatry units improved as much as younger patients. Their longer LOS was associated with milder medical illness severity. There may be a role for more specialized care of elderly women or geriatric patients with mild to moderate medical illness to improve the efficiency of their care.