Preoperative evaluation for tracheoesophageal voice restoration

Systematic preoperative assessment by the surgeon and speech pathologist reduces complications and increases the success rates of tracheoesophageal (TE) voice restoration by identifying unsuitable candidates for the procedure. Preselection criteria are based on the various medical, psychologic, structural, and physiologic factors that are contraindications to the procedure or are associated with failure of the TE method. Predictive testing as part of the preoperative evaluation for secondary voice restoration can identify patients with structural or physiologic abnormalities that will hinder the development of satisfactory TE speech. Early recognition and management of potential obstacles to TE voice production will shorten the recovery time to achieve functional communication,and allow more laryngectomees to benefit from the TE voice restoration method of alaryngeal communication.     

The Indian experience with immediate tracheoesophageal puncture for voice restoration

A 3-year prospective study on primary tracheoesophageal puncture was carried out at Nanavati Hospital and Tata Memorial Hospital, Bombay, to assess its feasibility in a developing country and its success in vocal rehabilitation. We report our experience with primary tracheoesophageal puncture in 64 patients (57 males and 7 females) following surgical treatment for carcinoma of the pyriform fossa (45 cases) and endolarynx (19 cases). All patients underwent total laryngectomies with or without partial pharyngectomy and primary pharyngeal mucosal closure. Fifty-one patients underwent primary surgery followed by postoperative radiotherapy. At 3 months successful tracheoesophageal speech was achieved in 84% patients, although this percentage decreased to 67% at 9 months. There were no major complications. Successful vocal rehabilitation was related more to patient factors such as delays in seeking medical attention when prosthetic valves dislodged, improper use and care of the valves and inability to learn speech with the prosthesis. Overall, primary tracheoesophageal puncture was found to be feasible and should be used more extensively for vocal rehabilitation following laryngectomy in developing countries.Presented at the Combined Meeting of the Society of Head and Neck Surgeons and the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer, Paris, France, 25–28 May 1994     

The custom-fit voice prosthesis, for treatment of periprothetic leakage after tracheoesophageal voice restoration

BACKGROUND: Leakage around an indwelling voice prosthesis is detected during 13% up to 27% of all replacement procedures of voice prosthesis and causes serious complications in further voice restoration of the laryngectomee. Lots of therapeutic options to stop periprothetic leakage have been described (Injection of Bioplastique, autologous fat or collagen, suture techniques, spacer therapy) without convincing success rates. METHODS: Custom-fit voice prostheses are ordinary indwelling voice prostheses (Blom-Singer low pressure Indwelling 20 fr) with enlarged flanges and reduced shaft length that are individually sized for the shunt of the laryngectomee. Especially enlarging the esophageal flange provides a tight sealing of leakage around the prosthesis. PATIENTS: In a one year lasting clinical trial 692 voice prostheses were changed. In 77 cases periprothetic leakage was detected and fistulas were fitted with individually sized voice prostheses. RESULTS: In 76 cases total control of leakage was achieved without any specific complications taking place. Moreover two types of leaking tracheoesophageal fistulas were distinguished, a dilated-atrophic and an infected-necrotic type. 57% of the fistulas were dilated-atrophic type and 43% of the fistulas were classified infected-necrotic type. Infected-necrotic fistulas needed enlarged flanges tracheal an esophageal for tight sealing in 91% of the cases whereas dilated-atrophic fistulas needed double flanges only in 45%. 70% of infected-necrotic type fistulas needed only one singular history of a custom-fit prosthesis and could be changed back to ordinary indwelling prostheses after healing had taken place. CONCLUSIONS: As the insertion of a modified prosthesis is only slightly more effort than an ordinary voice prosthesis insertion, the success rate is high und complications are rare we recommend the custom-fit voice prosthesis for treatment of periprothetic leakage.     

Simple mucodermal tracheoesophageal shunt method for voice restoration

A newly devised simple primary tracheoesophageal shunt method, involving a mucodermal tunnel, was performed on 14 patients. Aspiration was prevented by percutaneous digital pressure on the shunt, with silicone or collagen injection around it, or the use of a voice prosthesis. The overall success rate was 79% (11/14). This method was an easy one-stage procedure that could be performed in about 15 minutes.     

Italian experience of voice restoration after laryngectomy with tracheoesophageal puncture

This report concerns 102 cases of tracheoesophageal puncture performed as a means of secondary voice restoration after total laryngectomy, in 70 patients proving unable to learn esophageal speech and as a treatment of choice in a further 32 cases. Complications arose in 21 cases but were generally minor and could be overcome. Results were favorable in 45 of 70 and 29 of 32 cases, respectively. The method was considered effective, particularly when supported by the patient's determination to learn a verbal communication method.     

喉全切除术后Blom-Singer法发音重建术并发症分析及处理

目的 探讨喉全切除术后安放Blom-Singer发音管发音重建术的并发症及处理策略。方法 回顾性分析1986年11月—2004年6月期间151例喉全切除术后患者安装Blom—Singer发音管的临床资料。结果 所有病例均随访6个月～15年。151例中，138例获得满意的发音效果，发音总成功率91．4％；出现并发症15例，发生率9．9％，其中造口肉芽增生6例，4例行激光切除，2例三氯醋酸烧灼去除，其中有2例发音失败；早期感染2例且并发咽后壁脓肿，其中1例累及上纵隔，均经局部切开负压引流及应用抗生素治愈；2例管周漏液，取出发音管一段时间后，造口缩窄，重新置入发音管；发音管脱落2例，重新置入；造口狭窄1例，行造口扩大术得以解决；发音管食管端鸭嘴部真菌生长1例，制霉菌素清洗，后更换发音管；误吸1例，封闭造口后患吸入性肺炎。15例并发症中成功治疗12例，余3例发音失败。结论 气管食管穿刺安放Blom-Singer发音管帮助喉全切除患者恢复语言功能，并发症少，成功率高，发声质量好，目前已成为一种最常用的手术方法。     

喉全切除术后气管食管穿刺发声重建的远期效果

目的：探讨气管食管穿刺(TEP)安放Blom-Singer发音管发声重建在喉全切除术后患者中的远期效果。方法：回顾性分析134例资料完整的喉全切除术后TEP安放Blom-Singer发音管发声患者的临床资料。应用多维语音分析系统(MDVP)对其中18例发音管发声患者的声学参数进行检测分析。结果：所有病例均随访2～15年。1986～1989年12例中7例获得满意结果,成功率58．3％。1990年以后的122例中,114例效果满意,成功率93．4％,总成功率90．3％。MDVP检测的发音管发声主要声学参数值都远远偏离正常。常见并发症有瘘口肉芽增生,早期感染,气、食管瘘口过大出现漏液等。结论：TEP安放发音管,操作简单,并发症少,成功率高,质量好,远期效果稳定,是一种目前让无喉患者开口讲话较好的手术方法。咽、食管括约肌切开术能提高BlomSinger发音管发声重建的成功率。     

Botulinum neurotoxin for pharyngeal constrictor muscle spasm in tracheoesophageal voice restoration

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of Botulinum neurotoxin (Botox) for elimination of pharyngeal constrictor muscle spasm in tracheoesophageal voice restoration. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective review was made of 62 patients between 1991 and 2002 who had Botox as the initial treatment for pharyngeal constrictor muscle spasm. METHODS: One hundred units of Botox properly diluted in 3 mL saline was instilled unilaterally under electromyographic guidance after fluoroscopic identification and marking of the contracted pharyngeal constrictor muscles. The patients were divided into three groups based on their response to the first Botox injection: group I, complete relaxation of the pharyngeal constrictors resulting in fluent voice, intratracheal phonation pressure of 20 to 40 cm H2O, and the ability to say 15 to 20 uninterrupted syllables; group II, hypertonic or incomplete relaxation of the pharyngeal constrictors resulting in intratracheal phonation pressure of 45 to 70 cm H2O and the ability to say 7 or 8 syllables; and group III, failure to produce relaxation of the pharyngeal constrictors. RESULTS: After the first injection of Botox, 49 (79%) patients were in group I or II (41 in group I and 8 in group II) and group III consisted of 13 patients. Thirty-four patients (55%) had group I (28) or II (6) responses for greater than 6 months. A second Botox injection enabled 6 of the 13 failures to move into group I. In all, 8 pharyngeal constrictor muscle myotomies (13%) were ultimately required in the 62 patients. The group I speaker for the longest period has enjoyed 11 years of fluency and successful daily use of a tracheostoma valve after two Botox injections. CONCLUSION: Botox relaxation of the pharyngeal constrictor muscles has proven to be effective, has replaced secondary pharyngeal myotomy for the initial treatment of pharyngeal muscle spasm, and is the only treatment in patients who are not candidates for elective surgery. Radiographic assessment, electromyographically monitored injection, and the number of Botox units appear to be important to successful outcomes.     

Current indications and complications of tracheoesophageal puncture for voice restoration after laryngectomy

Surgical voice restoration by valved tracheoesophageal fistula is undoubtedly the most successful method of voice restoration for laryngectomy patients, is one of the most important developments in head and neck surgery, and has resulted in a greatly enhanced quality of life for most patients who have undergone this debilitating procedure. In developed countries, it is now unacceptable to perform laryngectomy without giving patients the opportunity to undergo surgical voice restoration. Successful voice acquisition should be achievable in approximately 80% of patients. Success rates will be highest and problems most effectively dealt with under the auspices of a properly organized surgical voice restoration program within a specialist head and neck cancer unit with a well structured specialist multidisciplinary team. This article reviews recent publications addressing indications for surgical voice restoration by tracheoesophageal puncture, expected success rates, and reasons for failure and complications and ways to manage them in the context of the author's own experience.     

Primary tracheoesophageal fistula procedure for voice restoration: The university of texas medical branch experience

Voice restoration for laryngectomees is challenging, but in recent years the tracheoesophageal (TE) fistula procedure using a oneway valved prosthesis has had relatively good success. The purposes of this study were to determine the success rate for the primary TE fistula procedure, analyze failures, and study methods for selection and training of these patients. In a prospective study, 21 consecutive patients had primary TE fistula procedures performed over an 18-month period. Thirteen of 20 who had adequate follow-up developed fluent, intelligible speech using either duckbill or low-pressure one-way valves. Complications included one stomal infection and one paratracheal fistula. This experience has led 1. to development of a protocol for selection and training of patients for this procedure and 2. to the conclusion that the procedure can improve voice restoration success without an increase in morbidity.     

全喉切除Ⅰ期气管食管端-侧吻合发音重建术远期疗效分析

目的 :探讨一种有别于其他全喉切除术后发音重建术的手术方法。方法 :施行全喉切除术后行Ⅰ期气管膜样部食管前壁造孔端 侧吻合气管食管分流发音重建术 36例。结果 :随访 5～ 10年 ,1例失访 (按死亡计算 )。36例中 ,近期发音成功率为 6 9.4 % ,远期为 83.3% ;3年存活率为 72 % ,5、10年存活率为 6 9%。结论 :该发音重建术不影响全喉切除的彻底性 ,Ⅰ期完成 ,操作简单、误吸率较低、发音成功率高、远期效果稳定 ,是一种让全喉切除术后患者开口讲话的较好的手术方法     

Voice following laryngeal cancer surgery: troubleshooting common problems after tracheoesophageal voice restoration

The introduction of tracheoesophageal voice restoration by Blom and Singer has provided laryngectomy patients with a successful alternative to the use of artificial larynx and esophageal speech.Although this method of communication provides for the rapid acquisition of intelligible, functional speech, there are common problems that may occur in these patients. Close follow-up of patients postoperatively along with thorough patient education is beneficial to improving long-term success with tracheoesophageal speech. The purpose of this article is to discuss common problems encountered in the treatment of patients who have undergone tracheoesophageal puncture and to provide systematic assessment and treatment guidelines that are essential to maintaining functional tracheoesophageal speech.     

Fungal colonization of tracheoesophageal voice prosthesis

Laryngectomized patients fitted with tracheoesophageal (TE) puncture voice prosthesis may experience frequent failures in adequate production of neophonation. In some cases, these phonatory problems result from obstruction of the voice prosthesis with various deposits. The nature of these deposits was studied with mycologic techniques and by light and scanning electron microscopy. Candida albicans and other fungal species were identified.     

The long-term indwelling tracheoesophageal prosthesis for alaryngeal voice rehabilitation

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the initial experience at Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland, with the use of long-term indwelling tracheoesophageal voice prostheses. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. SETTING: Tertiary referral academic medical center. PATIENTS: Thirty patients undergoing speech rehabilitation after laryngectomy during a period of 18 months. INTERVENTION: Insertion of a long-term indwelling tracheoesophageal voice prosthesis. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Duration of use, complications. RESULTS: The mean duration of placement for a single prosthesis was 4.9 months (148 days), with a range of 14 to 330 days. Sixteen of the 30 patients encountered problems with leakage because of fungal colonization, the majority of which (15 of 16 cases) were solved with either oral or topical application of nystatin. Size matching in terms of prosthesis length and tract length was critical, and problems of this nature were encountered in 11 of 30 patients. The incorporation of a second system of prostheses that offered an increased number of size options solved these problems in all of these patients. Ultimately, 27 of 30 patients were able to successfully wear these prostheses. CONCLUSIONS: The indwelling tracheoesophageal voice prosthesis offers patients all the advantages of tracheoesophageal speech rehabilitation after laryngectomy without the inconvenience of frequent prosthesis changes. With careful attention to the details of fitting and care, it can be worn by the majority of patients successfully.     

应用Blom-Singer技术Ⅰ期发音重建的经验和体会

目的 :探讨 期 Blom- Singer发音重建术的适应证、相关的技术要点以及失败的原因。方法 :对实施了 期Blom- Singer发音重建术的 18例喉癌和 8例喉咽癌进行回顾性分析 ,扩大了手术适应证 ,并对气管造口方法进行了改良。结果 :我科从 1996年 4月后的 2年半时间内 ,共施行 期 Blom- Singer发音重建术 2 6例 ,成功率 88.5 % ,发音效果满意 ,改良后的椭圆形气管造口不易漏气 ,不易狭窄 ,更易被患者接受。结论 :本术式适应证广 ,包括年老体弱、肺功能不良、偏瘫、以及使用胸大肌皮瓣等不同材料修复的患者也可施行。改良后的气管造口成形方法 ,既解决了“碗状”塌陷问题 ,又解决了早期漏气和后期造口狭窄的问题。本术式简单易学 ,并发症少 ,值得推广     

Temporal and perceptual characteristics of tracheoesophageal voice

This study compared the temporal and perceptual characteristics of tracheoesophageal voice produced in four different prosthetic/occlusion conditions: 1. using the Blom-Singer duckbill prosthesis and digital occlusion of the tracheostoma; 2. using the Blom-Singer duckbill prosthesis and valve occlusion of the tracheostoma; 3. using the Blom-Singer low-pressure prosthesis and digital occlusion of the tracheostoma; and 4. using the Blom-Singer low-pressure prosthesis and valve occlusion of the tracheostoma. Characteristics of speech produced in each condition were also compared to those of normal speech. Results revealed significant differences between normal speech and tracheoesophageal speech (in all prosthetic/occlusion conditions) for several temporal and perceptual parameters. In addition, important trends were noted among tracheoesophageal prosthetic/occlusion conditions.     

Quality of life and voice handicap of laryngectomees using tracheoesophageal substitute voice

BACKGROUND: Health-related quality of life (QoL) and subjective health have become popular constructs for the evaluation of both efficacy and efficiency of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures in medicine. QoL is considered a multidimensional construct encompassing physical, mental and social facets of life. It is an accepted outcome parameter not only in international classification systems such as ICIDH and ICF, but as well in clinical guidelines and disease management programs. Measuring quality of life allows for comparison of different diseases though it certainly lacks disease specific aspects. Thus, it has to be assumed that in patients with distinct functional deficits QoL cannot cover all aspects that are important for the individual patient. This study focuses on laryngectomies and their self-evaluation of post-laryngectomy speech. It is well known that these patients experience a decreased QoL compared to patients after partial laryngectomy or healthy persons. In this study, the impact of voice restoration on the laryngectomies' QoL was evaluated. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In 20 male laryngectomies aged 62 +/- 8 years, relations between QoL and voice handicap were evaluated using two instruments as proposed in the international literature, i. e. the Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) and the Voice Handicap Index (VHI). All patients had successfully been using tracheoesophageal substitute voice for at least one year. Complete data sets were available from all patients. Data were analysed using Microsoft Excel and Sigma Plot, Jandel Corp. software packages. RESULTS: Results of both the SF-36 and the VHI reveal wide interindividual ranges. There are statistically significant correlations (p < 0.05) between the SF-36's scales General Health and Vitality and the VHI, whereas no correlations were found between social and psychological scales and the voice handicap. DISCUSSION: Wide ranges of the data obtained reveal that obviously both health related quality of life and voice handicap are not affected in a group specific way. So, both tests are of clinical value to depict individual aspects of wellbeing after laryngectomy. The combination of VHI and SF-36 illuminates correlations between general and special subjective aspects. Strikingly, the laryngectomies' social and psychological status is not related to their voice handicap. Data allow for conclusion that laryngectomies' substitute voice problems do not affect social aspects of quality of life in a disease specific way, at least as long as voice restoration was successful at all.