[Long-term experiences with the Asai and Staffieri methods of voice rehabilitation after laryngectomy: a comparative study].

Follow up of 45 patients who had undergone a surgical voice rehabilitation by Asai's or Staffieri's method showed clearly that the main problem of such operations is not the restoration of a good voice but the guarantee of a normal swallow. The low position of the tracheo-pharyngeal fistula in Staffieri's operation is particularly disadvantageous and often requires surgical closure of the neoglottis. A strict pre-operative assessment is indicated before all operative methods for voice rehabilitation. Oesophageal speech remains the best voice after laryngectomy and operative reconstruction is relegated to second place.