Rehabilitation evaluation of Amatsu's tracheoesophageal shunt operation after total laryngectomy with sphincter mechanism

Abstract

To evaluate rehabilitation effect of Amatsu's tracheoesophageal shunt operation after total laryngectomy with sphincter mechanism. Voice rehabilitation were performed for 60 cases with Amatsu's tracheoesophageal shunt operation after total laryngectomy with sphincter mechanism, in which 20 cases were involved in post-operation radiation therapy. Fifty two (86.7%)cases developed speech with voice and swallow rehabilitation, but 1 case of them suffered water drip from his tracheoesophageal shunt when drinking. The other 8 (11.3%) cases developed swallow rehabilitation but failed in speech rehabilitation for pharyngeal fistula (4 cases, in which 1 had pre-operative radiation therapy), tracheoesophageal shunt obstruction (2 cases), dyspnea with unknown reason (1 cases), no desire to speech (1 cases). Furthermore, all the 20 cases who were involved in post-operative radiative therapy restore their speech and swallow capability finally. Amatsu's tracheoesophageal shunt operation with sphincter mechanism brought effective speech rehabilitation results for total laryngectomy even with post-operation radiation therapy.