Vocal rehabilitation following laryngectomy

This retrospective study, undertaken over a 5 year period from 1980 to 1985, evaluates the vocal status of 94 laryngectomees who were reviewed 6 months post-surgery. In this series, only 23% of the total laryngectomees and 4% of the pharyngolaryngectomees primarily reconstructed with free jejunal graft acquired functional oesophageal speech. The results indicate that successful alaryngeal speech can be achieved, however, by incorporating the use of the artificial larynx and the tracheo-oesophageal puncture technique into the post-operative rehabilitation programme. Early objective assessment for effective management of this population is proposed.