Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2025 Feb;172(2):702-705.
doi: 10.1002/ohn.1095. Epub 2024 Dec 18.

Tracheoesophageal Puncture Outcomes at a Safety Net Hospital

Trace T Palmer  1 , Samuel J Hopper  2 , M Caroline Murray  3 , John Ho  2 , Kacie R Oglesby  1 , Paige Sanford  3 , Oishika Paul  1 , Josephine S Alston  3 , Gina D Jefferson  1 , Lana L Jackson  1 , Anne C Kane  1
Affiliations

Tracheoesophageal Puncture Outcomes at a Safety Net Hospital

Trace T Palmer et al. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2025 Feb.

Abstract

Tracheoesophageal puncture (TEP) is the gold standard for voice rehabilitation after total laryngectomy (TL). Retrospective analysis was performed of TEP outcomes in patients between 2013 and 2020 at a single tertiary hospital. TEP was performed primarily in 79%, secondarily in 6%, and not placed in 15% of 226 patients. Within the study population, 53.4% utilized their TEP, including 52% of primary and 71.4% of secondary TEPs. TEP-related complication occurred in 50.8%, including 50.8% of primary and 50% of secondary TEPs. Secondary TEP was less likely in Black versus White patients, and more likely in patients undergoing pharyngectomy. Older patients and those with TEP complications were less likely to utilize TEP. Our study, performed in a TL population of predominantly lower socioeconomic status, showed high complication rates and low rates of utilization overall. Our findings suggest secondary TEP may be favorable to allow increased pre-operatively counseling and patient healing prior to procedure.

Keywords: post‐laryngectomy speech; primary tracheoesophageal puncture; secondary tracheoesophageal puncture; total laryngectomy; tracheoesophageal puncture (TEP); voice rehabilitation.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Xi S. Effectiveness of voice rehabilitation on vocalisation in postlaryngectomy patients: a systematic review. Int J Evid Based Healthc. 2010;8(4):256‐258. doi:10.1111/j.1744-1609.2010.00177.x
    1. Singer MI, Blom ED. An endoscopic technique for restoration of voice after laryngectomy. Ann Otol, Rhinol, Laryngol. 1980;89(6 Pt 1):529‐533. doi:10.1177/000348948008900608
    1. Chakravarty PD, McMurran AEL, Banigo A, Shakeel M, Ah‐See KW. Primary versus secondary tracheoesophageal puncture: systematic review and meta‐analysis. J Laryngol Otol. 2018;132(1):14‐21. doi:10.1017/S0022215117002390
    1. Luu K, Chang BA, Valenzuela D, Anderson D. Primary versus secondary tracheoesophageal puncture for voice rehabilitation in laryngectomy patients: a systematic review. Clin Otolaryngol. 2018;43(5):1250‐1259. doi:10.1111/coa.13138
    1. Saurajen AS, Chee NW, Siow JK, Lim F, Mok PK, Earnest A. Tracheoesophageal puncture outcomes and predictors of success in laryngectomised patients. Ann Acad Med Singapore. 2000;29(4):452‐456.

LinkOut - more resources