Playing a brass instrument after total laryngectomy: a case report
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Andrea Luigi Cavalot1, Antonio Schindler, Elsa Juliani
1Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
Background:
A brass instrument is a musical instrument in which the tone is produced by vibration of the lips as the player blows into a tubular resonator. The case of a professional brass player who continued his activity after total laryngectomy, with insertion of a voice prosthesis in a tracheoesophageal shunt, is reported.
Methods:
A videoendoscopic and videofluoroscopic study of the patient during brass playing was conducted.
Results:
A nonvibrating, open neoglottis during brass playing was found on videoendoscopy. Videofluorography revealed an enlarged hypopharynx, a thick neoglottis while playing at lower tone; at higher pitch the tongue base was retracted, the neoglottis was thin and stretched, and the subneoglottic area was extremely enlarged.
Conclusion:
The case reported shows that the insertion of a voice prosthesis in a tracheoesophageal shunt seems to create a regulating airflow system sufficiently advanced to play a brass instrument, further reducing the disability of laryngeal speakers.
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