[Analysis of complications after surgical voice and speech rehabilitation in laryngectomized patients. Problems related to implantation and change of voice prosthesis].

INTRODUCTION

Surgical rehabilitation of voice and speech, with implantation of Provox 2 voice prosthesis is becoming a standard procedure in Poland in the last few years. Still some opinions are raised, considering the potential risk of complications, particularly, when tracheo-esophageal puncture is finally located in the irradiated tissue.

AIM OF THE STUDY: The assessment of safety, and analysis of complication encountered with tracheo-esophageal puncture, and implantation of voice prosthesis.

MATERIAL AND METHOD: The 106 cases of patients treated with mentioned above method. The primary implantation was performed in 73 (68,9%) cases; the secondary implantation in 33 (31,1%). The 85 (80,2%) patients received radiotherapy before, or after implantation. In the analyzed period (2002-2004) apart of 106 implantations, the replacement of 132 prostheses was performed.

RESULTS

There was only one, potentially life-threatening complication recorded in the analyzed group of 106 patients--inhalation of prosthesis to tracheo-bronchial tree. The most common complications directly related to implantation were: infection in the place of created fistula after secondary implantation 4/33(12,1%), and spontaneous partial extrusion of prosthesis with occlusion of created fistula tract 8/106 (7,5%). The average lifetime of prosthesis in place, was 9,8 months in irradiated field, and 9,7 months in patients who did not received radiotherapy.

CONCLUSIONS

Surgical rehabilitation of voice and speech, with implantation of vocal prosthesis is safe and reliable procedure. The radiotherapy applied before or after creation of tracheo-esophageal fistula is not a contra indication for this method. Generally low rate of complications is similar in both groups--who does received or not received radiotherapy. Also the stability of implanted prostheses were similar in both groups.