Hostname: page-component-745bb68f8f-b6zl4 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-02-11T18:02:52.135Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Tracheoesophageal speech following transmucosal pharyngeal myotomy with the potassium-titanyl-phosphate laser

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2007

David J. Halvorson*
Affiliation:
Department of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
Frederick A. Kuhn
Affiliation:
Alabama and the Georgia Ear Institute, Savannah, Georgia, USA.
*
Address for correspondence: David J. Halvorson, M.D., Department of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology, 1501 5th Avenue South, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama 35233, USA. Fax: (205) 934-3992
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

Successful communication following laryngectomy usually involves an electrolarynx or oesophageal speech. Only within the past decade has tracheoesophageal puncture been advocated for alaryngeal speech and evolved into the procedure of choice. Successful production of speech after total laryngectomy using tracheoesophageal speech may be impaired secondary to anatomical and functional difficulties. The primary limitation of tracheoesophageal speech is pharyngoesophageal spasm occurring in the upper oesophageal sphincter impeding airflow through this segment. Our report presents four patients who underwent a pharyngeal myotomy with the potassium-titanyl-phosphate (KTP) laser. Post-operatively, each patient was able to communicate with functional alaryngeal speech. A transmucosal pharyngeal myotomy may represent an alternative for patients with speech failure after tracheoesophageal puncture.

Type
Clinical Records
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 1997

References

Callaway, A., Truelson, J. M., Wolf, G. T., Thomas-Kincaid, L., Cannon, S. (1992) Predictive value of objective esophageal insufflation testing for acquisition of tracheoe-sophageal speech. Laryngoscope 102: 704708.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Halvorson, D. J., Kuhn, F. A. (1994) Transmucosal cricophar-yngeal myotomy with the potassium-titanyl-phosphate laser in the treatment of cricopharyngeal dysmotility. Annals of Otology, Rhinology and Laryngology 103: 173177.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Halvorson, D. J., Kuhn, F. A. (1997) Treatment of cricophar-yngeal dysmotility with a transmucosal cricopharyngeal myotomy with the potassium-titanyl-phosphate laser. A series of 16 patients. Endoscopy, (in press).Google Scholar
Hamaker, R. C., Singer, M. I., Blom, E. D., Daniels, H. A. (1985) Primary voice restoration at laryngectomy. Archives in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery 111: 182186.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Henley, J., Souliere, C. (1986) Tracheoesophageal speech failure in the laryngectomy: The role of constrictor myotomy. Laryngoscope 96: 10161020.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kirchner, J. A., Dey, F. L., Shedd, D. P. (1963) The pharynx after laryngectomy. Laryngoscope 73: 1833.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Panje, W. E. (1981) Prosthetic vocal rehabilitation following laryngectomy: the voice button. Annals of Otology, Rhinology and Laryngology 90: 116.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Singer, M. I., Blom, E. D. (1980) An endoscopic technique for restoration of voice after laryngectomy. Annals of Otology, Rhinology and Laryngology 89: 529.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Singer, M. I., Blom, E. D. (1981) A selective myotomy for voice restoration after total laryngectomy. Archives of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery 107: 670673.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Singer, M. I., Blom, E. D. (1985) Vocal rehabilitation with prosthetic devices. In Surgery of the Larynx. (Bailey, B. J., Biller, H. F., eds.) W. B. Saunders Co., Pennsylvania, pp 367384.Google Scholar
Trudeau, M. D., Hirsch, S. M., Schuller, D. E. (1986) Vocal restorative surgery: why wait? Laryngoscope 96: 975977.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wetmore, S. J., Johns, M. E., Baker, S. R. (1981) The Singer- Blom voice restoration procedure. Archives of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery 107: 674.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Winans, C. S., Reichbach, E. J., Waldrop, W. F. (1974) Esophageal determinants of alaryngeal speech. Archives of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery 99: 10.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed