Abstract
Operation methods in order to master an esophageal speech in a brief time were undertaken in all cases and landmarks of the clips were fixed on the inferior pharyngeal constrictor muscles. The relationship between formation of a pseudoglottis and function of the inferior pharyngeal constrictor muscles was investigated under a roentgenographycal view. Postoperative observation showed us that a pseudoglottis appeared most frequently at the approximate level of the fifth vertebra and the crico pharyngeus muscle. When a laryngectomee trying to speak, the cricopharyngeus muscle was ascended to take an air in the esophagus and soon descended to belch it out. The cricopharyngeus muscle stayed in the lowest level during phonation. When a pseudoglottis was dilated by an esophageal balloon, its width of 10 to 20 mm was most effective to speak. Wide or narrow pseudoglottis than that criteria didn't create a good esophageal voice. The configuration of a pseudoglottis dilated by an esophageal balloon was easily classified into 5 groups, that is, type 1: simple form, type 2: simple form with subglottic space, type 3: larynx-like form, type 4: multiple formation of neoglottis, type 5: incomplete formation of neoglottis. Type 1 to 3 envolved in good esophageal speakers. The higher the prominence on the posterior wall at the level of a pseudoglottis which was formed by the cricopharyngeus muscle the better the esophageal speech was.
