Vocal rehabilitation after total laryngectomy using the Provox voice prosthesis

Vocal rehabilitation in laryngectomized patients can be attained by surgical (tracheoesophageal speech) or conservative methods (oesophageal speech or artificial larynx). We prospectively studied voice restoration in 37 patients who underwent total laryngectomy in the period from February 1991 to February 1993. The patients were given the opportunity to assess both non-shunt oesophageal speech and shunt oesophageal speech using the Provox voice prosthesis. The Provox low resistance, self-retaining voice prosthesis is a biflanged device made of silicon rubber. A primary tracheoesophageal puncture was made in 28 patients, while a secondary puncture was performed in another nine patients. The results were assessed according to criteria established at the ‘Third International Congress on Voice Prosthesis’ in Groningen (1988). Functional tracheoesophageal speech after primary puncture was achieved in 95% of patients 12 months after puncture, while oesophageal voice was acquired by 55%. Only minor surgical and prosthesis-related complications were encountered during this follow-up period in 29% of the patients. The device lifetime varied from 3 months to at least 2 years (mean 5.4 months).     

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.     

The use of the vocal prosthesis Provox 2 for speech rehabilitation after total laryngectomy

The authors have presented the application and usage the alloplastic vocal prosthesis Provox 2 to serve for rehabilitation speech after total laryngectomy. Surgical technique of implantation of vocal prosthesis was discussed. The authors estimated in 6 patients following parameters of speech; fundamental frequency, maximum phonation time of vowel "a", maximum intensity and degree of dysphonia. In all 6 cases post-operative course was uncomplicated. Above mentioned parameters of voice were measured in order to comparison quality of oesophageal speech to tracheo - oesophageal speech. The authors assessed speech at 6 patients with voice prosthesis and 6 with good oesophageal speakers as a control group. The results of our investigations showed, that quality of tracheo - esophageal speech obtained with usage vocal prosthesis Provox 2 is more like normal speech than oesophageal speech. Social efficiency and quality of tracheo - oesophageal voice is better than oesophageal voice.     

The acceptability of secondary tracheo-oesophageal fistula creation in long standing laryngectomees.

The use of a tracheo-oesophageal voice prosthesis was introduced to the Glasgow Royal Infirmary Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery unit in 1986. Although it was the authors' impression that most total laryngectomees since then had been offered this method of voice restoration, it was thought that long standing laryngectomees were seldom offered tracheo-oesophageal fistula (TOF) speech. Therefore all 58 total laryngectomees currently attending the combined head and neck surgery/radiotherapy clinic were assessed. Thirty-two had a tracheo-oesophageal fistula with voice prosthesis. All of these patients had undergone their total laryngectomy since 1986 and 83 per cent had achieved TOF speech. The remaining 26 patients (who mostly had their laryngectomy before 1986) had not been offered TOF speech. An outpatient consultation was arranged for these patients and 63 per cent of those offered, accepted TOF creation and a voice prosthesis. When compared to those who refused, it was found that good oesophageal speech, age or interval since laryngectomy were not good predictors of likely refusal. This study indicates that all fit long standing laryngectomees should be offered secondary TOF creation.     

Speech rehabilitation using a voice prostheses following laryngectomy

The most serious consequence for patients following laryngectomy is the restriction of verbal communication. Since the introduction of laryngectomy significant concerns have already been focused on the field of speech rehabilitation. The operational procedures for the speech rehabilitation include training of the oesophageal voice speech and the voice prostheses. Speech prostheses are available in our hospital since 1983. The speech quality of the speech prostheses is compared with the classical oesophageal voice or to the voice by means of a Provox speech help. Bacteriological and mycological colonisation as a function of the length of implantation are defined. Our approach to the voice rehabilitation after a laryngectomy by use of a spacer during the laryngectomy has proven successful. As a result patients do not fall into a "hole" of non verbal communication. The aim of our efforts is always to create a functioning oesophageal voice after leaving the care of the hospital.     

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 following total laryngectomy: microvascular laryngeal replacement-plasty (laryngoplasty) instead of voice prosthesis

Since the introduction of the so-called voice prostheses tracheoesophageal puncture is currently the most widely used surgical procedure for vocal rehabilitation after total laryngectomy. The voice prosthesis renders possible a reliably reproducible voice, which is superior (period of uninterrupted sound production, basal frequency, voice intensity) to the other techniques (esophageal speech, external vibrators, other surgical reconstructive measures), but has the following disadvantages: high initial phonation pressure, formation of granulation tissue around the voice shunt, blockage or leakage of the prosthesis or the voice shunt, displacement of the prosthesis, spontaneous occlusion when the prosthesis is accidentally removed, overtaxing the patients who have difficulties in replacing and cleaning the prosthesis. As an alternative new surgical technique a substitute larynx tube (laryngoplasty) was formed by a microvascular anastomotic forearm flap and connected to the trachea and pharynx in ten patients with extensive (T3-T4) laryngohypopharyngeal carcinoma. All ten patients developed a voice comparable with those of patients who have a voice prosthesis (frequency, voice intensity, period of uninterrupted sound production). An advantage of this graft over the voice prosthesis is that the phonation pressure required is low. While they were still in hospital eight patients learned to speak without using their hands by means of a tracheostomal valve. So far (six months postoperative) this surgical procedure has proved to be a practicable surgical alternative to a voice prosthesis.     

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.     

Incidence of tracheo-oesophageal fistulas after primary voice rehabilitation with the Provox or the Eska-Herrmann voice prosthesis

Salivary leakage can be a major symptom of valve failure or incorrect positioning of indwelling voice rehabilitation valves in a tracheo-oesophageal fistula. Usually, removal of the valve for a short time leads to shrinking of the fistula or a simple valve replacement procedure resolves the problem. If the fistula, however, does not close spontaneously, symptoms persist and the fistula may have to be closed surgically. In a retrospective study, data of 103 patients who underwent laryngectomy and primary voice rehabilitation between 1989 and 1998 with either the Provox or the Eska-Herrmann prosthesis were compared with regard to surgical fistula closure requirement. A total of 55 patients underwent laryngectomy and primary voice rehabilitation with the Eska-Herrmann and 48 with the Provox prosthesis. Initial tumour treatment also included post-operative radiotherapy for all patients in the study. In total, surgical fistula closure had to be performed in three patients, all of whom had been treated with the Provox prosthesis. The time span between initial voice rehabilitation and surgical closure of the fistula was 5 months, 21 months and 24 months in all three patients respectively. None of the fistulas developed in relation to recurring tumour disease. The Provox prosthesis seem to have a higher risk of developing fistulas necessitating surgical intervention, even years after initial tumour therapy, than the Eska-Herrman prosthesis. These complications may be due to the larger tracheo-oesophageal fistula necessary to fit the larger diameter of the Provox prosthesis. Received: 19 December 2000 / Accepted: 10 April 2001     

Postlaryngectomy voice restoration using a voice prosthesis: a single institution's ten-year experience

We describe the speech rehabilitation outcome of patients treated with total laryngectomy or total laryngopharyngectomy and insertion of Provox voice prostheses (Atos Medical AB, H?rby, Sweden) at the Helsinki University Central Hospital. We performed a retrospective chart review of 95 patients (88 men and 7 women; mean age, 63.5 years) who underwent insertion of a voice prosthesis in the period 1992 to 2002. Eighty-one percent (77/95) of the patients underwent a primary prosthesis insertion at the time of laryngectomy. A head and neck surgeon, a laryngologist, and a speech therapist rated the long-term tracheoesophageal speech of 78% (74/95) of the patients as good or average. The main causes for replacement of the device were obstruction, leakage or inadequate size of the prosthesis, and granulation or leakage around the fistula. According to our 10-year experience, use of the Provox prosthesis is an effective method of postlaryngectomy voice rehabilitation, and it continues to be our preferred method of voice restoration in the majority of cases.     

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。     

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.     

Surgical voice restoration following ablative surgery for laryngeal and hypopharyngeal carcinoma

Surgical voice restoration is an important part of functional rehabilitation of patients following ablative surgery for laryngeal and hypopharyngeal carcinoma. The aim of this retrospective study was to assess the functional status with regard to speech of a cohort of 100 patients (age ranged 34-84 years), who underwent laryngectomy and laryngopharyngectomy over a 10-year period (1989-1999). Ninety-two patients consented to surgical voice restoration. Primary tracheoesophageal punctures were performed in 70 and secondary punctures in 22 (mainly after jejunal flap reconstruction). Nine patients were excluded from this analysis (seven patients died prior to assessment, one had the prosthesis removed at her request and one patient had insufficient follow-up). Tracheoesophageal speech was assessed in the remaining 83 patients using a rating scale measuring the number of syllables per breath, use of voice and intelligibility by non-professional listeners. Currently, Provox 2 valves are being used in the majority of patients. Overall tracheoesophageal speech results were good in 45/83 (54.2 per cent), average in 22/83 (26.5 per cent) and poor in 15/83 (18 per cent). One patient could not develop tracheoesophageal speech. The majority of laryngectomy patients had good speech but in patients who had complex reconstructions tracheoesophageal speech was mostly rated as average. Average to good speech in more than two-thirds of the cohort of patients show that surgical voice restoration is a highly successful and valuable technique to restore speech functions after ablative surgery for laryngeal and hypopharyngeal carcinoma.     

无假体气管食管分流无喉言语者误咽变化的观察

目的 :探讨无假体气管食管分流无喉言语者误咽的变化过程和影响因素。方法 :1 6例喉癌患者做了喉全切除无假体气管食管分流发音重建术。结果 :术后随访 1年 3个月 9年 6个月 ,死亡 3例 ,存活 1 3例。误咽转归 :由术后不漏呛转为微漏呛 7例 ,术后始终微漏呛 4例 ,由明显漏呛转为微漏呛 5例。误咽对发音的影响 :不漏呛时发音好 ,变为微漏呛时发音依然好 ;不漏呛时发音费时费力 ,变为微漏呛时发音渐好 ;始终微漏呛始终发音好 ;漏呛明显时发音不好 ,变为微漏呛时发音渐变好。无一例始终明显漏呛且始终发音不好的患者。结论 :该类术式能达到术后无误咽固然很好 ,若能做到术后发音好 ,虽有微呛、微漏 ,但仍能控制 ,影响进食轻微 ,也是成功的 ;术后放疗、感染和 (或 )咽瘘对误咽有明显影响 ;误咽的转归及对发音的影响是一个复杂的问题 ,尚需深入研究     

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。     

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.     

Electromyography of Cricopharyngeal Muscles in Patients with Oesophageal Speech

Subject for the examination were 30 patients who during total laryngectomy had had two silver clips for haemostasis inserted into the cricopharyngeous muscle about 3 cm from the sewing place in the midline, faciliating the location of the muscle and the placing of a needle electrode. Twelve to 18 months after laryngectomy and Phoniatric rehabilitation, electromyographic examinations were performed. Each EMG recording was evaluated as to amplitude, discharge frequency and time duration of muscle electric activity. EMG recordings made during deglutition and phonation proved dependences of cricopharyngeous muscle activity on quality of oesophageal voice production and higher activity of muscle during phonation than deglutition in patients who developed very good and good oesophageal speech.     

Electromyography of cricopharyngeal muscles in patients with oesophageal speech.

Subject for the examination were 30 patients who during total laryngectomy had had two silver clips for haemostasis inserted into the cricopharyngeous muscle about 3 cm from the sewing place in the midline, facilitating the location of the muscle and the placing of a needle electrode. Twelve to 18 months after laryngectomy and phoniatric rehabilitation, electromyographic examinations were performed. Each EMG recording was evaluated as to amplitude, discharge frequency and time duration of muscle electric activity. EMG recordings made during deglutition and phonation proved dependences of cricopharyngeous muscle activity on quality of oesophageal voice production and higher activity of muscle during phonation than deglutition in patients who developed very good and good oesophageal speech.     

Tracheoesophageal speech failure in the laryngectomee: The role of constrictor myotomy

Drs. Singer and Blom pioneered the development of a valved voice prosthesis and controlled fistula between the tracheal and esophagcal wall to generate fluent esophageal speech in laryngectomy patients. Since then numerous voice prostheses with different performance capacities have entered the marketplace. In spite of optimal choices and fitting of devices, there remains a population of patients refractory to this type of rehabilitation. It is our experience that a number of patients ultimately benefit from middle and inferior constrictor myotomy with marked improvement in their speech. Patient selection, evaluation, and operative techniques are discussed. Five patients who were unable to speak even after introduction of various commercially available devices showed marked improvement after middle and inferior constrictor surgical myotomy. Minimal complications were encountered even in irradiated patients. These patients were preoperatively injected with Xylocaine to produce a partial blockade. Their speech improved dramatically for the duration of Xylocaine blockade. Esophageal video fluoroscopy of attempted speech with the voice prosthesis in place confirmed constrictor spasm that opposed air flow to the oropharynx. Inferior and middle constrictor myotomy appears to be very beneficial in rehabilitation of failed alaryngeal speakers who demonstrate pharyngeal constrictor spasm.