Voice rehabilitation after laryngectomy with voice prostheses. Results of a prospective follow-up study]

Although the results of surgical rehabilitation by means of voice prostheses are on the average better than rehabilitation via oesophageal speech, the tracheoesophageal puncture (TEP)-technique has so far not been widely used in Germany. The majority of hospitals still prefer the "traditional" method of voice rehabilitation using oesophageal speech. The present prospective study was undertaken to compare the results of postlaryngectomy vocal rehabilitation, if patients were offered the surgical voice rehabilitation via voice prosthesis as an alternative to oesophageal speech. Taking into account all the patients who underwent laryngectomy from 1989 until 1990 in Tübingen, primary surgical voice rehabilitation was performed in 44 out of 54 patients (81.5%). Interestingly enough, 34 patients who underwent laryngectomy were able to perform communication via the telephone on the day of their discharge. Moreover, one-third of the laryngectomised patients showed a significant increase in speech intelligibility within the first six months after laryngectomy. 36 patients with laryngectomy were able to attain proficiency 6 months after surgery. In 12 patients the prosthesis had to be removed, since either phonation was impossible or patients successfully learned and preferred oesophageal speech. In conclusion, independent of the method of voice rehabilitation (prosthesis, electrolarynx, oesophageal speech), our results support the hypothesis that a voice rehabilitation regimen will yield a higher rehabilitation rate of patients if rehabilitation via surgical voice is offered as an alternative to learning the oesophageal voice. Therefore, it seems to be advisable that patients are allowed to have the choice between surgical rehabilitation and oesophageal speech restoration.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

咽食管括约肌切开术在喉全切除术后发音重建中的作用

目的　探讨咽食管括约肌切开术对减少咽食管括约肌失弛缓对喉全切除术后安装Blom Singer发音管发音重建的影响。方法　喉全切除术后 ,咽食管括约肌收缩或是痉挛都会不同程度地影响食管的气流并阻碍发音。咽食管括约肌的解剖位置是环咽肌以及其上的下咽缩肌的一部分和颈段食管上段的一部分。手术操作是在喉全切除术中、术后于气管造瘘口外上方切除长 5cm ,宽 1cm的咽食管括约肌。结果　 3 3例喉全切除术的患者进行咽食管括约肌切开术后有 3 2例发音成功 ,发音重建的成功率是 97%。其中包括 12例喉全切除术中I期进行环咽肌切开术 ,2 1例是Ⅱ期进行咽食管括约肌切开术的 ,后者又有 9例是安装Blom Singer发音管后发音不能再行咽食管括约肌切开术的。患者 3年存活 2 5例 ,5年存活 18例。同期行喉全切除术和咽食管括约肌切开术的 12例患者 ,Kaplan Meier法统计 3年生存率 81 82 % ,5年生存率 42 86%。结论　咽食管括约肌切开术能提高Blom Singer发音管发音重建的成功率。     

咽食管括约肌切开术在喉全切除术后发音重建中的作用

目的：探讨咽食管括约肌切开术对减少咽食管括约肌失弛缓对喉全切除术后安装Blom-Singer发音管发音重建的影响。方法：喉全切除术后，咽食管括约肌收缩或是痉挛都会不同程度地影响食管的气流并阻碍发音。咽食管括约肌的解剖位置是环咽肌以及其上的下咽缩肌的一部分和颈段食管上段的一部分。手术操作是在喉全切除术中、术后于气管造瘘口外上方切除长5cm，宽1cm的咽食管括约肌。结果：33例喉全切除术的患者进行咽食管括约肌切开术后有32例发音成功，发音重建的成功率是97％。其中包括12例喉全切除术中I期进行环咽肌切开术，21例是Ⅱ期进行咽食管括约肌切开术的，后者又有9例是安装Blom-Singer发音管后发音不能再行咽食管括约肌切开术的。患者3年存活25例，5年存活18例。同期行喉全切除术和咽食管括约肌切开术的12例患者，Kaplan-Meier法统计3年生存率81．82％，5年生存率42．86％。结论：咽食管括约肌切开术能提高Blom-Singer发音管发音重建的成功率。     

中晚期喉癌患者术后发音生存质量评估

目的 通过对中晚期喉癌患者行三种不同术式后的发音生存质量分析,指导喉癌治疗方案的选择.方法对30例喉次全切除患者、30例喉全切除未行发音重建患者、30例喉全切除行发音重建患者,采用修改后的美国密执安大学头颈癌患者生存质量量表（university of Michican head and neck quality of life,HNQOL）进行问卷调查,分析三种不同术式患者的生存质量及生存质量随时间发展的变化规律.结果喉全切除行发音重建组在语言交流、嗅觉情况、社会交往及娱乐工作状态方面与喉次全切除组比较无显著性差异,而未行发音重建组与喉次全切除组有显著性差异.结论喉全切除行发音重建可明显提高术后的生存质量.应积极通过临床治疗,心理治疗及社会干预帮助其康复,提高术后生存质量.     

Management von Komplikationen nach prothetischer Stimmrehabilitation

The growing popularity of prosthetic voice restoration after total laryngectomy confronts ENT specialists with an increasing number of prosthesis-related complications. The ENT specialist should be familiar with the management of these complications in order to maintain the patients speech and social rehabilitation. In a retrospective study on 108 consecutive patients, complications were encountered in 30%. The incidence was not related to the factors age or primary vs. secondary insertion of the prosthesis. Complications consisted of formation of granulation tissue (15.7%), shunt dilatation (5.5%), loss of prosthesis (3.7%), local cellulitis (2.8%), extrusion (1.9%), ingrowth of prosthesis (1.9%) and formation of excessive scar tissue with dislocation of prosthesis (0.9%). Permanent removal of the prosthesis due to complications was necessary in 3 cases (2.8%). Therapeutic measures for the management of complications are described and evaluated. The treatment of complications was well tolerated by all patients and led to satisfying results in most cases. Our observations show that prosthetic voice rehabilitation is associated with various difficulties and complications, but that these can be handled quite easily and successfully in the majority of cases.     

Chirurgische Stimmrehabilitation nach Laryngektomie

In spite of the progress made in organ-preserving therapy modalities, including endoscopic or external partial laryngectomies, radiotherapy or chemoradiation in many patients with advanced laryngeal and hypopharyngeal carcinomas, total laryngectomy remains the only safe possibility for long lasting local tumour control. The existing strategies for a sufficient restoration of voice following total laryngectomy are still controversial. Besides the strictly conservative methods of esophageal voice and electronic devices, different surgical procedures are carried out worldwide. At present, the exclusively surgical voice shunt techniques are only offered in a few very specialized centres. In Germany, three surgical methods are in use: (1) microvascular laryngoplasty according to Hagen (> 300 cases), (2) the "jejunal speaking siphon" according to Ehrenberger modified by Remmert (> 60 cases), and (3) the modified Asai-technique according to Maier and Weidauer (> 80 cases).     

Rehabilitación del paciente laringectomizado. Recomendaciones de la Sociedad Española de Otorrinolaringología y Cirugía de Cabeza y Cuello

Total laryngectomy remains essential treatment for locally advanced laryngeal carcinoma, related to better survival rates. However, it involves changes for the patient, such as the inability to communicate verbally, breathing or aesthetic changes, which affect their quality of life and require comprehensive rehabilitation.This paper was written by the total laryngectomy rehabilitation workgroup of the National Head and Neck and Skull Base working committee of the Spanish Society of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery. The purpose of the article is to combine materials, surgical procedures and means towards the comprehensive rehabilitation of total laryngectomy patients, so that they can achieve a good quality of life. This paper is aimed at all health care professionals caring for total laryngectomy patients. It is also aimed at the patients themselves, as well as ENT surgeons.We have considered staffing and material needs, all procedures before, during and after surgery and after hospital discharge. There are also detailed recommendations about types of rehabilitation and follow-up, and the need for recording these events.The comprehensive rehabilitation total laryngectomy patients is very important if we want to improve their quality of life. The recommendations we mention aim to help the healthcare professionals involved in the treatment of total laryngectomy patients to help them achieve a good quality of life, as similar as possible to the life they led before surgery.     

Reasons for success or failure in surgical voice restoration after total laryngectomy: an Australian study.

Over the past 20 years, use of tracheo-oesophageal puncture (TEP) speech after total laryngectomy has resulted in reported success rates of 90-93 per cent worldwide. Despite this, data collected from major acute hospitals in Victoria, Australia indicated that, of 38 patients who underwent total laryngectomy in 1997, only 10 (26 per cent) were using TEP speech as their primary mode of communication at 12 months post-operatively. This paper describes how a quantitative research methodology was used to investigate why so few patients in Victoria were successfully using TEP speech as their chosen mode of rehabilitation after total laryngectomy. Patients, speech pathologists and ENT surgeons were interviewed. Their thoughts and beliefs regarding speech rehabilitation were mapped, and themes were identified, coded and analysed. This paper describes and discusses the results of this research and its possible implications for future patient management, through establishing a model for 'ideal' speech rehabilitation.     

Blom-Singer发音管在喉全切除术后的临床应用

目的观察喉全切除术后应用Blom-Singer发音管重建喉发声功能的效果。方法回顾性分析1994年9月～2003年8月15例喉全切除术后行Blom-Singer发音管重建喉发声功能患者的临床资料。结果15例患者中12例行Ⅰ期发音管重建术，10例手术成功(10／12，83．33％)；3例行Ⅱ期发音管重建术，其中2例手术成功，两种术式的总成功率为80％(12／15)。Ⅰ期手术失败2例，与气管食管壁分离过多有关；Ⅱ期手术失败1例，系环咽肌切断不完全所致。结论喉全切除术后应用Blom-Singer发音管重建喉发声功能是一种有效的发声重建方法，环咽肌切断及保留气管食管壁的完整是手术成功的美键。     

Ear, nose, and throat operations in the United States, 1979 to 1984

Using data from the National Center for Health Statistics for 1979 to 1984, I found a 5% decrease in total ear, nose, and throat (ENT) operations, the largest decline of any surgical specialty. For the same five-year period, the number of ENT surgeons increased 15%. In 1983, ENT surgeons performed 478 000 operations on tonsils and adenoids, an 18% decrease from the 1979 total (584 000). The removal of tonsils and adenoids is the eighth most common operation performed in the United States. The second most common ENT operation, nose repair and plastic operations (263 000), is the country's 14th most frequent operation. The 20 most common ENT operations constitute 87% of all ENT operations. In 1983, ENT operations represented 9% of all surgery in this country. These figures show that numbers of ENT surgical operations have decreased over the last five years, despite a constantly increasing number of ENT surgeons.     

改良Amatsu法全喉切除术后的发音重建

目的：对全喉切除术后Ⅰ期气管食管造瘘术式发音重建进行临床评价。方法：用改良Ａｍｓｔｓｕ法对２０例患者实施全喉切除术后Ⅰ期发音重建术。结果：２０例全喉切除术后发音重建术患者随访１￣８年,最终有１６例获得发音功能。结论：全喉切除术后一期完成气管－食管造瘘发音重建术,适用于所有的全喉切除术或同期作根治性颈廓清术及术后放疗的患者,能较好地解决全喉切除术后发音问题。     

Assessment of irregular voices after total and laser surgical partial laryngectomy

OBJECTIVES: To assess the merits of computer-aided voice analysis procedures for very irregular voices of patients after total and laser surgical partial laryngectomy, and to characterize qualitative differences in speech and voice function between these 2 groups of patients. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: University hospital in G?ttingen, Germany PATIENTS: Twenty-nine patients with advanced laryngeal carcinomas (T3-T4; according to the Union Internationale Contre le Cancer, TNM staging system, stages III-IVa) were examined: 18 patients with tracheoesophageal speech (voice prosthesis) after total laryngectomy and 11 patients who underwent partial transoral resection of the larynx (by means of laser microsurgery without surgical voice rehabilitation). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Speech intelligibility was measured by a standardized and validated telephone test, and voice quality was determined by 2 computerized voice analysis systems (multidimensional voice program and G?ttingen hoarseness diagram). RESULTS: The telephone test demonstrated a significantly better speech performance of the patients who had undergone organ-preserving surgery. The voices of both patient groups were too irregular for a qualitative differentiation with the multidimensional voice program. The multidimensional voice program results also failed to show significant correlations to speech intelligibility. The G?ttingen hoarseness diagram showed significantly more regular voices in patients with partial laryngectomy than total laryngectomy. These results were correlated with speech intelligibility. CONCLUSIONS: The G?ttingen hoarseness diagram is suitable for a qualitative assessment even of irregular voices. Voice prosthesis offers a voice quality that at best approaches that of patients with partial laryngectomy.     

Voice rehabilitation after laryngectomy with the Provox voice prosthesis in South Africa

A study was undertaken to determine whether the Provox voice prosthesis provides good voice rehabilitation following a total laryngectomy in the urban, suburban and rural populations served by a tertiary referral hospital in South Africa. Between 1995 and 1999, a cohort of 128 patients at Tygerberg Hospital was rehabilitated with the Provox voice prosthesis after laryngectomy. In 104 patients primary placement of the prosthesis was done at the time of the laryngectomy. Mean device life and adverse events were determined. Voice quality was assessed subjectively in 104 patients and objectively in 26 patients. The mean device life was 303 days and adverse events occurred in 16 patients. Subjectively, 77 of 104 patients had a good voice, and objectively 22 of 26 patients had good voice intelligibility. The Provox voice prosthesis provides good voice rehabilitation following total laryngectomy, with minimal complications, in the population served by Tygerberg Hospital.     

A new low-resistance, self-retaining prosthesis (Provox) for voice rehabilitation after total laryngectomy

Prosthetic rehabilitation of voice after total laryngectomy has gained wide acceptance in the last 10 years. Several reliable voice prostheses have been developed and used successfully. Priorities for further development of the methods and instruments for prosthetic voice rehabilitation have led to the design of a low-resistance, self-retaining voice prosthesis (Provox) and an adapted replacement method. The results obtained in 79 patients are described. In vivo airflow resistance ranged from 1.0 to 3.8 kPa (mean = 1.9 kPa). Speech quality was good in 91% of the patients. The self-retaining properties of the prosthesis appeared to be satisfactory. The average device-life was more than 5 months. Replacement of the prosthesis with a new disposable guide wire was done quickly as an outpatient procedure. Maintenance of the prosthesis by the patient was simple. The new low-resistance, self-retaining Provox voice prosthesis and the modified replacement method appeared to further improve the results of prosthetic voice rehabilitation after total laryngectomy.     

Voice prosthesis in patients after total laryngectomy

The aim of the study is to present the role of voice prostheses in the voice rehabilitation in patients who underwent total laryngectomy. 7 patients with laryngeal cancer were included in the study. All patients are males aged 41-72 years (mean age 58) treated in the Department of Otolaryngology Medical Academy of Bialystok from November 2001 to March 2002. The voice prostheses were placed during the total laryngectomy in 5 patients. In 2 patients the voice prosthesis was placed in the period of 1.5 to 2 years after laryngectomy. The voice prostheses type Provox 2 were used in all cases. In 2 cases the prosthesis was in size of 8 mm, in 5 cases--10 mm. The control group included 7 patients after total laryngectomy without placing the voice prostheses. These patients developed oesophageal speech. All patients underwent phoniatric measurements during 12 to 30 days after the surgical procedure. The data indicate that patients who developed oesophageal speech, their voice in the range of subjective measurements is understandable but it is necessary to emphasize that the voice is harsh, low without fluency of the speech result from the intervals essential to accumulate the air in the oesophagus. The patients with voice prostheses have dull voice but more fluent and louder. The clarity of the voice of the patients with voice prostheses is significantly higher. According to the objective measurements all parameters are better in the oesophageal speech.     

气管食管壁组织瓣法发音重建术32例报告

目的探讨气管食管壁组织瓣法在全喉切除后发音重建的临床疗效。方法对１９８９年８月～１９９７年８月间手术的３２例病例进行临床随访,并评价发音效果。结果术后３周、１年、３年及５年发音总有效率分别为８７．５％、８６．７％、８４．２％及７２．７％,３年及５年的生存率分别为８２．６％及６８．８％。重建失败４例,术后发音变差４例。结论气管食管壁组织瓣法是全喉切除后有效的发音重建方法。     

Voice prosthesis — Our experience

Malignancy of the larynx is a large group of malignancies in our country. The advanced stage of laryngeal carcinoma requires total laryngectomy which results in loss of speech along with other psychological and functional damages. Following total laryngectomy, tracheo-oesophageal voice prosthesis offers the most reliable form of voice rehabilitation. At S.M.S. Medical College and Hospital, Jaipur 25 patient underwent speech rehabilitation with voice prosthesis between Dec. 2001 to Dec. 2003. Speech rehabilitation was successful in all patients with few problem associated with indwelling prosthesis.     

Voice rehabilitation with Provox2 voice prosthesis following total laryngectomy for laryngeal and hypopharyngeal carcinoma

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the effectiveness of the Provox2 voice prosthesis for voice rehabilitation following total laryngectomy. METHODS: From September 2000 to December 2004, the Provox2 voice prosthesis was used for voice rehabilitation in 32 patients following total laryngectomy. The quality of speech with the Provox2 voice prosthesis was analyzed using the HRS rating scale, the maximum phonation time (MPT), incidence of complications and the in situ lifetime. The rate of speech restoration was further analyzed in 129 patients with total laryngectomy from 1996 to 2004. RESULT: Twenty-nine of 32 patients were able to restore speech using the Provox2 voice prosthesis, a speech restoration rate of 90.6%. The maximum phonation time (MPT) was measured in 18 patients using the Provox2 voice prosthesis. The mean MPT was 15.1 s, with a range of 8-28 s. MPT was not influenced by age, concurrent radiotherapy treatment, the location of the primary tumor or use of reconstructive surgery. The average lifetime of the Provox2 in patients with laryngeal carcinoma (12 patients) and hypopharyngeal carcinoma (17 patients) was 27.2 and 16.6 weeks, respectively, which was significantly different (P=0.024, non-parametric Mann-Whitney's U-test). The rate of speech restoration by the use of esophageal speech, and insertion of an artificial larynx was 62.7% for laryngeal carcinoma (59 cases) and 38.6% for hypopharyngeal carcinoma (70 cases), which was also significantly different (P<0.01, chi-square test). CONCLUSION: Provox2 voice prosthesis speech was very useful due to the higher rate of speech restoration, longer phonatory time, and better intelligibility. It was also thought that voice prosthesis speech was useful in conjunction with esophageal speech and an artificial larynx depending on the patient's condition or wishes.     

Laryngoplasty: results and problems after the creation of a neoglottis

Voice rehabilitation in the laryngectomy patient has been a major goal of reconstructive laryngeal surgery. 36 patients underwent laryngectomy with the creation of a phonatory neoglottis as outlined by Staffieri. In 13 patients good voice rehabilitation was achieved. In 23 patients who failed to develop voice production, altered swallowing function was the major problem.     

Assessment of degree of psychological health involvement in pre-laryngectomized patients

Introduction and objectiveSeveral authors have found increased anxiety in patients the day before an intervention and its correlation with anxiety levels the post-operative period. In this study, we determined a number of problems to which patients who underwent total laryngectomy often objected: the tracheostomy, being left without a voice and it being an aggressive, major surgery.Our objective was to assess the degree of anxiety and fears of the patient prior to total laryngectomy.Material and methodsWe compared 2 groups of 20 patients who underwent operation for total laryngectomy and for other ENT pathologies. On the day before the operation, we collected demographic and medical data and administered the Spanish versions of the Folstein Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Goldberg General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28). We also investigated whether the patients had any fear or fear of surgery and what that fear was.ResultsCompletion of the MMSE revealed cognitive impairment in only one patient. We subsequently conducted the GHQ-28 and found psychological distress in 20-25% of our cases. When the different fears in both groups were compared by X², the results were not statistically significant.ConclusionsTotal laryngectomy causes the loss of oral communication and impairs self-image, contributing to a strong emotional reaction. It is essential to have effective rehabilitation, which considers all aspects of health-sickness, such as the recovery of spoken language, social aspects and the psychological characteristics, vital for proper comprehensive patient management.