St Guily J L, Angelard B, el-Bez M, Julien N, Debry C, Fichaux P, Gondret R
Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Faculty of Medicine COCHIN, Tenon Hospital, Paris, France.
Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1992 Mar;118(3):252-5. doi: 10.1001/archotol.1992.01880030034008.
From July 1985 until May 1990, 83 patients underwent a total laryngectomy. We prospectively studied voice restoration in 81 of them (two died postoperatively). Esophageal voice was used by 19 patients; a tracheoesophageal procedure (myomucosal shunt, primary or secondary puncture with Blom-Singer prosthesis) by 41; and 21 patients had no voice restoration. Results were assessed according to voice quality and usage. Tracheoesophageal speech had a success rate of 73% (good voice, daily use) after 1 month, while esophageal voice proved to have only a 5% success rate. Thirty patients (37%), however, remained without a substitute voice. The reasons for their exclusion are presented; they include a high rate of refusal.
