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Published on: June 6, 2020
Characteristics of tracheostomy phonation valves
H Prigent1, D Orlikowski, M B Blumen
1Service de Réanimation Médicale, Hôpital Raymond Poincaré, 92380 Garches, France.
The European Respiratory Journal
|May 19, 2006
Summary
Phonation valves for tracheostomised patients vary significantly in resistance and work of breathing. Choosing the right valve is crucial for patient comfort and physiological benefit.
Area of Science:
- Respiratory Medicine
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Phonation valves restore speech in tracheostomised patients.
- Valve use must not impede the physiological benefits of tracheostomy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the aerodynamic characteristics of phonation valves.
- To evaluate the impact of these valves on work of breathing and patient-reported inspiratory difficulty.
Main Methods:
- Six commercial phonation valves were tested in a simulated respiratory system.
- Work of breathing (WOB) and resistance were measured.
- Ten tracheostomised patients evaluated valve use, with respiratory patterns, gas exchange, and Borg scale ratings recorded.
Main Results:
- Phonation valves exhibited a wide resistance range (1.3–5.9 cmH2O.L-1.s-1).
- Additional WOB varied by a factor of 4.4 between the best and worst valves.
- Patient-reported inspiratory difficulty (Borg scale) significantly differed between baseline, best, and worst valves, though respiratory patterns and gas exchange remained unaffected.
Conclusions:
- Significant variations in aerodynamic performance exist among phonation valves.
- The choice of phonation valve should be individualized based on patient condition to optimize comfort and physiological outcomes.
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