[Speech rehabilitation following laryngectomy with the Blom-Singer prosthesis]

The Blom-Singer prosthesis was used on 18 male patients. 61% of these acquired fluent speech, 11% spoke partially and 28% were not able to use the prosthesis at all. Complications included dysphagia and difficulties with the function of the prosthesis. In some cases surgical revision or removal of the prosthesis was necessary. Older patients and those living in poor social conditions should not be selected for this procedure as their cooperation and motivation often seem to fail.