[Vocal rehabilitation with tracheoesophageal prosthesis. Study of peri-prosthetic leakages]

Peri-prosthetic leakages are a frequent complication of tracheoesophageal prosthesis used in the vocal rehabilitation of laryngectomized patients. The authors examine the effect of pre or post operative radiotherapy upon the incidence of this complication.

In a retrospective study of 67 patients rehabilited with a phonatory prosthesis between 1993 and 2002, pre or post-operative radiotherapy was carried out in 61 patients.

A peri-prosthetic leakage occured in 38.8% of the cases. The pre or post-operative radiotherapy was not a statistically significant cause of leakage, as the age of the patient and the surgical procedure.

Although not supported by the statistical study because of a lack of cases, the radiotherapy remains for the authors a factor determining in the mechanism of the peri-prosthetic leakages and bad forecast for their treatment. Realized before the surgery, it contra-indicates the phonatory prosthesis at the time of the tumor resection. In case of post-operative radiotherapy, the risks must be clearly explained to the patient.