Sakurai Hiroyuki, Nozaki Motohiro
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo 162-8666, Japan.
Int J Clin Oncol. 2005 Aug;10(4):243-6. doi: 10.1007/s10147-005-0512-y.
Vocal rehabilitation is of great importance for patients to maintain life quality following surgical treatment of head and neck tumors. Although the tracheo-neoesophageal shunt is a possible solution for voice restoration after pharyngolaryngoesophagectomy, regurgitation through the reconstructed shunt easily leads to aspiration pneumonia. Therefore, prevention of reflux to the airway is essential in all reconstructive procedures for tracheo-neoesophageal shunt. This article reviews previous methods restoring speech function following pharyngolaryngoesophagectomy.
