Immediate tracheoesophageal puncture for voice restoration in laryngopharyngeal resection

A 2-year prospective study on primary tracheoesophageal puncture was carried out to evaluate the morbidity of the procedure and its success in restoring speech. Fifty-two patients, 36 of whom suffered from carcinoma of the larynx and 16, carcinoma of the hypopharynx, were entered into the study. Thirty-three patients underwent total laryngectomy with primary pharyngeal closure, 14 patients had, in addition, pharyngectomy and pectoralis major myocutaneous flap reconstruction, and 5 patients had pharyngolaryngoesophagectomy and gastric transposition. Tracheoesophageal or tracheogastric speech was successful in 58, 86, and 80 percent, respectively. Manometric studies showed that the neopharyngeal sphincter pressure decreased in all instances, but a correlation between the neopharyngeal pressure and the success of tracheoesophageal speech was not demonstrable. The morbidity rate related to tracheoesophageal puncture was low. Therefore, we believe it to be a safe and feasible procedure that can facilitate early voice restoration.