Thrasyvoulou G, et al. - Researchers compared the horizontal and vertical methods used in the surgical closure of the neo-pharynx following total laryngectomy in terms of their effect on swallowing function, swallowing-related quality of life (QOL), and overall QOL. They also evaluated the potential influence of age (≤64 vs. ≥65 yr) and the type of treatment modality (primary, salvage, or total laryngectomy with radiotherapy) on outcomes. As the respective mean University of Washington quality-of-life questionnaire (UW-QOL) scores were 81.0 and 80.8, no significant difference in terms of overall QOL was seen. Positive population correlation coefficient was seen in both groups, but more so in the horizontal group. Swallowing function/QOL or overall QOL was influenced neither by age nor the type of treatment modality employed. Results demonstrated the superiority of horizontal closure of the neo-pharynx to vertical closure in terms postoperative swallowing function/QOL but not overall QOL.