Post-laryngectomy rehabilitation has generated tremendous interest in recent times owing to the development of innovative prosthetic devices and other appliances aimed at making life more comfortable for the laryngectomee. This book addresses not only the very essential function of voice rehabilitation, but also other equally important aspects such as pulmonary, olfactory and psycho-social rehabilitation as well as quality-of-life issues after laryngectomy. With more and more ENT, head and neck surgeons performing laryngectomies on a regular basis, this book aims to provide both the trainees and practicing surgeons a comprehensive and practical guide to the total rehabilitation of these patients.

Explores clinical issues of the 20-year-old tracheoesophageal puncture technique which allows for esophageal speech with pulmonic air. After a brief overview of the history of the technique, topics discussed include preoperative assessment methods, patient selection considerations, surgical techniques of primary and secondary puncture, surgical approaches to laryngopharyngectomy, surgical complications, postoperative therapeutic issues, the preservation of tracheoesophogeal prostheses, and the use of botulinum neurotoxin to nonsurgically optimize the pharynx muscles for alaryngeal phonation. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR