Total laryngectomy is the surgical procedure traditionally used to treat patients with advanced-stage cancer of the larynx. The impairments resulting from removal of such a small organ are, indeed, profound. They include loss of voice and speech; altered respiration, necessitating a permanent breathing opening in the neck; and diminished sense of smell and taste. When one considers these factor...

OBJECTIVES The goal of this study was to determine whether speech breathing changes over time in laryngectomy patients who use an electrolarynx, to explore the potential of using respiratory signals to control an artificial voice source. METHODS Respiratory patterns during serial speech tasks (counting, days of the week) with an electrolarynx were prospectively studied by inductance plethysmo...

UNLABELLED INTRODUCTION We present the case of a man with a leiomyosarcoma of the base of the tongue. We feel this case is important as this kind of pathology, though rare, can occur at a site where carcinomas are more frequent. CASE PRESENTATION A 77-year-old Caucasian man had been reporting difficulty in swallowing and hoarseness for a month before admission to our department. After seve...

To evaluate long-term use of indwelling Blom-Singer voice prosthesis (VP) for vocal rehabilitation of patients submitted to total laryngectomy (TL). We studied the influence of time of performance of tracheo-esophageal puncture (TEP), use of radiotherapy (XRT), patients' age and length of follow-up, on the rate of success of use of VP. Study Design: clinical prospective. Material and Method: Se...

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES Pharyngo-cutaneous fistula (PCF) is one of the main problems for patients undergoing total laryngectomy. There are many risk factors described and associated with the appearance of PCF; however, some of these are currently under discussion. The aim of this work is to analyse the incidence of PCF, hospital stay and associated risk factors in patients undergoing total ...

BACKGROUND Early oral feeding for patients who underwent total laryngectomy is still controversial. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety of initiating early oral feeding after total laryngectomy regarding pharyngocutaneous fistula. The survey included research in MEDLINE, EMBASE, and LILACS. METHODS The intervention analyzed was early oral feeding (<5 days), whereas the contro...

Paragangliomaof the larynx is a rare tumourthat arises from paraganglion cells. These tumors are generallyconsidered benign and have to be differentiated from other neuroendocrine tumors. Diagnosis relies mostly on histopathological examination followed by immunohistochemistry. Surgical excision generally confers complete cure of the tumor. We hereby present a case of laryngeal paragangliomain ...

The voice prosthesis is today the most widely used and accepted method of voice restoration following total laryngectomy. Fortunately, the cases in which it is necessary to temporarily or definitively close the fistula are rare (request of the patient, leakage from the fistula, aspiration pneumonia). Herein, an analysis is made of these cases and the surgical technique personally developed for ...

Objectives: To determine whether, in a developing world context, early oral feeding after laryngectomy is safe, cost-effective and appropriate. Study design: A prospective study of early oral feeding after laryngectomy, compared with retrospective, historical delayed feeding controls. Method: Forty patients underwent total laryngectomy for advanced carcinoma of the larynx with or without hypoph...