Tracheoesophageal Puncture for Alaryngeal Voice Restoration

Abstract

Thirty-two tracheoesophageal punctures (TEP) were performed on 30 patients by The Cleveland Clinic Foundation Department of Otolaryngology and Communicative Disorders. In all cases, the Blom-Singer duckbill prosthesis was utilized for alaryngeal voice restoration. Ninety-three percent of patients were able to produce significantly better voice following TEP when compared to their preoperative mode of communication. The preoperative orientation/evaluation format, surgical technique, success-failure ratios, and possible factors affecting successful TEP voice restoration are examined.