Current indications and complications of tracheoesophageal puncture for voice restoration after laryngectomy

Abstract

Surgical voice restoration by valved tracheoesophageal fistula is undoubtedly the most successful method of voice restoration for laryngectomy patients, is one of the most important developments in head and neck surgery, and has resulted in a greatly enhanced quality of life for most patients who have undergone this debilitating procedure. In developed countries, it is now unacceptable to perform laryngectomy without giving patients the opportunity to undergo surgical voice restoration. Successful voice acquisition should be achievable in approximately 80% of patients. Success rates will be highest and problems most effectively dealt with under the auspices of a properly organized surgical voice restoration program within a specialist head and neck cancer unit with a well structured specialist multidisciplinary team. This article reviews recent publications addressing indications for surgical voice restoration by tracheoesophageal puncture, expected success rates, and reasons for failure and complications and ways to manage them in the context of the author's own experience.