Tracheoesophageal Provox Prosthesis for Postlaryngectomy Voice Rehabilitation

Aims Advanced cancers of larynx and hypopharynx often require total laryngectomy which left the patient with severe physical and functional changes that compromise some of the most vital functions, including speech communication. Voice restoration after total laryngectomy has a functional importance for patient and a therapeutic challenge for the surgeon and speech pathologist. Tracheoesophageal puncture primary or secondary and insertion of provox prosthesis for voice rehabilitation has gained much popularity in present era due to its superior design and indwelling in nature. The purpose of the present study was to determinate the success rate and the long term results of provox prosthesis for speech rehabilitation in our population, and improvement in self-reported QOL among study group. Methods Retrospective evaluation of all the patients who underwent laryngectomy with or without provox prosthesis implantation was done in SMHS hospital, a tertiary care centre of Kashmir India, the only otolaryngologist referral institute between Jan 2006 to dec 2015. Results A total of 56 patients were retrospectively evualted, predominantly males (98 %) with a mean age of 67.5 years.80 % of the patients underwent primary and 20 % secondary TEP.78 % of patients achieved functional tracheoesophageal speech, the mean device lifetime was 36 months for voice prosthesis. Prosthesis-related complications occurred in 81 % of the patients and the most 32 common issues were periprosthesis leakage (26 %) and displacement (12 %). Conclusion Our success rate of voice rehabilitation was comparable to that reported in published literature with a satisfactory better device lifetime. Because of its safety and simplicity, tracheoesophageal puncture is considered to be an effective method for voice rehabilitation after total laryngectomy.