Tracheo oesophageal puncture voice: an Indian perspective.

Abstract

Author presents in this study 160 patients who underwent tracheoesophageal puncture (TEP) for voice rehabilitation after laryngectomy. This study represents authors experience in Indian perspective with regards to technique, timing of surgery, i.e., primary or secondary, effect of socioeconomic condition of the patients. Author also narrated complications secondary to the TEP voice and prosthesis, during long follow-up of 15years. The primary and secondary TEP were compared in patients having good socio-economical status with that of relatively poor status patients. As compared to the western literature, this Indian study showed significant differences in success rate of achieving good TEP voice production and also continuing use of TEP voice. Author observed that despite, entirely different socio economic condition and lack of proper follow-up, the secondary TEP done after complete evaluation of the patient yields much better sustained results for successful voice acquisition and continuation of the use of acquired voice. Author has described in details about the surgical procedures for secondary TEP; the prosthesis, care of prosthesis, problems due to TEP and prosthesis and the ways to rectify these problems.