The Safety of Common Voice Prostheses with ENT Lasers

Silicone voice prostheses, or valves, are inserted into the common tracheo-oesophageal wall of patients after laryngectomy, to allow speech rehabilitation. Granulation tissue around these voice prostheses is often removed by laser and the safety of these valves with lasers had not been confirmed. The common valves were exposed to increasing energies from the carbon dioxide, potassium-titanyl-phosphate and holmium YAG lasers, in air. The energies used were those in common clinical use. The Provox valves proved especially vulnerable to all laser energies. Other methods of removing granulation tissue should be tried prior to lasering, or the valves should be removed, as damage to them, or the patient's airway, can result.