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Postlaryngectomy prosthetic voice rehabilitation outcomes in a consecutive cohort of 232 patients over a 13‐year period
Author(s) -
Petersen Japke F.,
Lansaat Liset,
Timmermans Adriana J.,
van der Noort Vincent,
Hilgers Frans J. M.,
van den Brekel Michiel W. M.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
head and neck
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.012
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1097-0347
pISSN - 1043-3074
DOI - 10.1002/hed.25364
Subject(s) - laryngectomy , medicine , voice prosthesis , cohort , prosthesis , rehabilitation , retrospective cohort study , larynx , surgery , audiology , physical therapy
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.