喉頭摘出後のボイスプロステーシスによる音声再建の現状と患者支援の取り組みについて

抄録

We herein report the results of voice restoration with a voice prosthesis in 37 laryngectomized patients who were treated in our department between June 2011 and December 2015. A Provox^® voice prosthesis was used in all cases. Tracheoesophageal (TE) puncture was performed at the time of total laryngectomy (Primary puncture) in 21 patients, while 16 patients underwent TE puncture at a later stage (Secondary puncture). Ninety-seven percent of the patients developed good and intelligible speech using the voice prosthesis. We have also obtained financial support for laryngectomized patients in cooperation with the government of Yamanashi Prefecture, and have obtained subsidies from several municipalities, to provide assistance in the form of daily life equipment (an HME cassette and adhesive). As a result, we have attained 100% assistance for TE shunt speech patients in these for residential areas. We hope that options for voice restoration will increase with the spread of subsidies through the entire country.