BACKGROUND The current health care climate demands the provision of quality patient care in a cost-effective manner. Clinical pathways define the essential components of care that are provided to patients with a specific diagnosis to achieve a desired outcome within a predetermined period. Development and implementation of clinical pathways streamline the provision of quality care in the most c...

UNLABELLED 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 ...

A total laryngectomy removes the vocal folds which are fundamental in forming voiced sounds that make speech possible. Although implanted prosthetics are commonly used in developed countries, simple handheld vibrating electrolarynxes are still common worldwide. These devices are easy to use but suffer from many drawbacks including dedication of a hand, mechanical sounding voice, and sound leaka...

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES To describe the experiences of patients who had total laryngectomy from their perspective. RESEARCH APPROACH Descriptive, qualitative study. SETTING Participants' homes or investigator's hospital office. PARTICIPANTS 10 patients after total laryngectomy. METHODOLOGIC APPROACH Data were collected by semistructured, open-ended interviews during a period of six months, w...

BACKGROUND The purpose of this present study was to investigate risk factors for local recurrence and death after total laryngectomy, with particular emphasis on pattern of local recurrence (stomal vs pharyngeal/base of tongue) and impact of preceding tracheostomy. METHODS We conducted a retrospective review of 75 consecutive total laryngectomies for cancer of the larynx. RESULTS Nineteen p...

BACKGROUND Stapler application for pharyngeal closure after total laryngectomy allows for rapid watertight closure without field contamination and for potentially reduced fistula rate. METHODS One thousand four hundred fifteen patients underwent laryngectomy with linear stapler closure. In 98.6%, laryngectomy was performed after radiation failure. RESULTS A relatively high incidence of phar...

UNLABELLED Tracheoesophageal voice (TEV) with voice prosthesis (VP) is an efficient and reproducible method used in vocal rehabilitation after total laryngectomy (TL), prevented by spasms in the pharyngoesophageal segment (PES). Computerized Manometry (CM) is a new, direct and objective method used to assess the PES. AIM to carry out an objective analysis of the PES, with CM, before and after...

OBJECTIVE The aim of this work is to study the hitherto unclear aerodynamic parameters of the pseudo-glottis following total laryngectomy. These parameters include airflow rate, sub-pseudo-glottic pressure (SubPsG), efficiency and resistance, as well as sound pressure level (SPL). PATIENTS AND METHODS Eighteen male patients who have undergone total laryngectomy, with an age range from 54 to 7...

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS To describe the speech rehabilitation outcomes of patients undergoing total laryngectomy (TL) in the 21st century. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective chart review. SETTING Tertiary academic center SUBJECTS AND METHODS Retrospective review of 167 patients who underwent TL from June 2000 to February 2012. Demographics, disease variables, and surgical factors were reviewed. Pri...

INTRODUCTION Well-established esophageal voice and speech is the most human-like form of communication of laryngectomized patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS The study sample consisted of 28 patients of the Department of Ear. Nose and Throat, Clinical Center of Vojvodina in Novi Sad. All patients underwent total laryngectomy because of laryngeal cancer previously confirmed. The patients were divid...