Quality of Life of Patients Using Esophageal Speech after Total Laryngectomy: A Systematic Review Study.

Abstract

(1) Background: The present systematic study aimed to assess whether using esophageal speech (ES) as a method of vocal rehabilitation in patients after total laryngectomy enhances their quality of life (QoL) and vocal functionality based on patients' reports. (2) Methods: Data collection was conducted from PubMed, Google Scholar, and Speech Bite, and the PRISMA Flow Diagram tool was used to record different stages of the literature search process. In the review, nine studies were included, while a bias check was carried out using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) checklists. Survey analysis incorporated quantitative and qualitative data, including standardized questionnaires and audio analyses. (3) Results: A technique's effectiveness depends on the method's functionality and the patient's abilities. Furthermore, the findings revealed that ES use unexpectedly affects quality of life regarding patients. While statistical analysis of the studies showed that some patients reported improvement in quality of life and vocal functionality, others faced challenges such as difficulty in learning the technique, long-term intervention, and unsatisfactory phonetic performance. Some studies observed quantitative measures, such as improved Voice Impairment Index (VHI) scores and Voice-Related Quality of Life (V-RQOL) scores. However, results were not uniformly positive across studies, with a subset of patients reporting minimal improvement. (4) Conclusions: The limited literature on the effect of ES on patients' QoL appears to influence the results in different ways. However, research data support that patients' communication and psychological state seem to improve significantly compared to patients who have not been rehabilitated. The final assessment of the technique's effectiveness on quality of life must depend on many factors.