Early acquisition of esophageal phonation following tracheoesophageal phonation

Tracheoesophageal phonation appears to participate in early acquisition of esophageal phonation, which remains the preferred method of voice restoration among patients. Further studies into factors predicting and mechanisms underlying acquisition of esophageal phonation among alaryngeal patients may provide information facilitating superior quality of life.

The aim of this study was to examine early acquisition of esophageal phonation following tracheoesophageal phonation, and underlying mechanisms and preferred phonatory methods for alaryngeal patients who master both tracheoesophageal and esophageal phonation.

Subjects comprised 44 alaryngeal patients and were divided into three groups: group A (n=13), esophageal phonation alone; group B (n=21), tracheoesophageal phonation alone; and group C (n=10), patients who acquired esophageal phonation after learning tracheoesophageal phonation.

The results indicated that acquisition of tracheoesophageal phonation significantly accelerated acquisition of esophageal phonation to 59.3 days from 184.6 days. Patients in group C stopped tracheoesophageal phonation and predominantly used esophageal phonation. No factors predicting acquisition of esophageal phonation were identified among patients who had mastered tracheoesophageal phonation, including age at time of surgery, irradiation, neck dissection, acquisition time of tracheoesophageal phonation, and maximum phonation time of tracheoesophageal phonation. No evidence of air leakage through the shunt during esophageal phonation was noted in group C.