Long-Term Outcome of the Voice Rehabilitation after Total Laryngectomy

Yum, Jin Ho; Kim, Hyung Tae; Cho, Seung Ho; Kim, Min Sik; Park, Young Hak; Cho, Kwang Jae; Bang, Choong Ill; Song, Chang Eun

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
The voice rehabilitation following total laryngectomy is very important for the quality of life of patients who are cured by cancer treatment. The purpose of this study is to investigate the success rate and complications of various procedures used in our clinics and to evaluate various factors that can affect the success rate of the voice rehabilitation. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: From March 1993 to November 2002, 77 medical charts of the patients who underwent total laryngectomy were reviewed retrospectively to determine the immediate and long-term success rates of voice rehabilitation. The statistic correlation between the variables (age, tumor stage, tumor site, radiotherapy) and the success rate was analysed. RESULTS: Good vocalization was achieved in 90.5% of patients after Provox insertion, 81% after Amatsu procedure, while esophageal voice was acquired by 11.1%. The long-term success rate in 39 patients was 75% in Provox group, 81.8% in Amatsu group and 30.5% in esophageal voice group. There were no statistically significant correlation between the variables and the success rate of vocie rehabilitation. CONCLUSION: The result of this study suggested that tracheoesophageal puncture with Provox prosthesis and Amatsu operation are very effective procedures for the long term voice rehabilitation following total laryngectomy.