Abstract
Various voice prosthesis have been used in order voice for patients who were laryngectomy. We have used a new type of voice prosthesis, the Provox 2 from 1998 to 2002, in 14 cases of which 10 patients had a tracheoesophageal shunt (TE shunt) and 4 patients had a tracheojejunum shunt (TJ shunt). Nine of the 10 patients who had TE shunt could achieve sufficient communication ability with the Provox 2, and 3 of the 4 patients with TJ shunt also phonated clear voice. There was no major discomfort were observed, since the Provox 2 is a long term indwelling prosthesis which is anterograde insertion. We also evaluated the site of the vibratory source of these patients with videofluoloscopy.
In the cases of TE shunt, the neoglottis seems to be located in the place between C4 and C5 and it was thyreopharyngeum muscle, while in the cases of TJ shunt, the place of vibratory source depends on the each case.
