An Alternative Suture Technique for Fluid Leakage Around the Speech Prosthesis

Area of Science:

• Laryngology
• Speech Rehabilitation
• Surgical Techniques

Background:

• Total laryngectomy often leads to speech impairments, with tracheoesophageal speech prosthesis being a common solution.
• Patients may experience complications like prosthesis swallowing and periprosthetic saliva leakage, necessitating frequent replacements.
• Existing methods for managing these complications are not always optimal.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of an alternative suture technique for fistula narrowing.
• To assess the impact of this technique on preventing fluid leakage and prosthesis swallowing.
• To determine if the technique prolongs the interval between voice prosthesis replacements.

Main Methods:

• A study group (14 patients) with leakage/swallowing issues and a control group (40 patients) with other issues were analyzed.
• The study group underwent fistula narrowing using a suture technique under local anesthesia.
• Follow-up data on voice prosthesis replacement intervals were collected and analyzed.

Main Results:

• The average replacement interval in the study group increased significantly from 2.64 months to 7.71 months post-suturing (P<0.0001).
• The control group's average replacement interval was 8.5 months.
• No statistically significant difference was found between the post-suturing interval in the study group and the control group (P=0.279).

Conclusions:

• The constricting suture technique is a safe, quick, and cost-effective method for managing tracheoesophageal fistula enlargement.
• This technique significantly extends voice prosthesis use duration and enhances patient comfort.
• It is a valuable option for selected patients, reducing treatment costs and improving quality of life.