Postlaryngectomy prosthetic voice rehabilitation outcomes in a consecutive cohort of 232 patients over a 13-year period

Open Access
Authors
Publication date 03-2019
Journal Head & Neck
Volume | Issue number 41 | 3
Pages (from-to) 623-631
Number of pages 9
Organisations
  • Faculty of Humanities (FGw) - Amsterdam Institute for Humanities Research (AIHR) - Amsterdam Center for Language and Communication (ACLC)
Abstract
Background
With the increasing necessity for total laryngectomy (TL) after prior (chemo)radiotherapy, prosthetic vocal rehabilitation outcomes might have changed.

Methods
Retrospective cohort study including all patients laryngectomized between 2000 and 2012 with a voice prosthesis (VP) in the Netherlands Cancer Institute.

Results
Median device lifetimes of the standard Provox2 and Vega VPs are 63 and 66 days, respectively, and for the problem-solving ActiValve Light and Strong VPs 143 and 186 days, respectively. In multivariable analysis, salvage TL and TL for a dysfunctional larynx (compared to primary TL) were associated with a shorter device lifetime. Almost half of the patients (48%) experienced tracheoesophageal puncture tract-related problems, and this concerned 12% of all VP replacements.

Conclusions
Compared to historical cohorts, device lifetimes of regular Provox2 and Vega voice prostheses have decreased. Complications are not occurring more frequently but affect more patients. Nevertheless, the clinical reliability and validity of prosthetic voice rehabilitation is still sound.
Document type Article
Language English
Published at https://doi.org/10.1002/hed.25364
Other links https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85057030715
Downloads
hed.25364 (Final published version)
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