Prevention of aspiration following recurrent dislodgement of voice prosthesis: a patient's innovation.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To demonstrate a simple, practical, cheap method of preventing potentially fatal aspiration of a dislodged voice prosthesis; this method was developed by a laryngectomised patient.

CASE REPORT:

A patient diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx underwent total laryngectomy. Upon completion of radiotherapy, a tracheoesophageal fistula was created and a voice prosthesis inserted to enable voice restoration. Unfortunately, the patient presented subsequently with repeated episodes of dislodgement and an episode of potentially fatal aspiration of the voice prosthesis, despite various measures taken by the surgeons to overcome the problem. The patient subsequently developed a method enabling him to retrieve the voice prosthesis himself should it become dislodged. He attached a ring to the prosthesis, which was larger in diameter than the tracheal stoma, thus preventing ingestion or recurrence of aspiration.

CONCLUSION:

To our knowledge, this is the first report in the world literature of this form of innovation, created by a laryngectomised patient, to overcome the problem of aspiration or ingestion of a dislodged voice prosthesis.

• Authors: M Masaany, M B Marina, A Asma, A Sani
• Journal: The Journal of laryngology and otology (J Laryngol Otol) Vol. 123 Issue 6 Pg. 680-2 (Jun 2009) ISSN: 1748-5460 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 18544175 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Topics

• Carcinoma, Squamous Cell (radiotherapy, surgery)
• Foreign Bodies (prevention & control)
• Humans
• Laryngeal Neoplasms (radiotherapy, surgery)
• Laryngectomy (rehabilitation)
• Larynx, Artificial
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Prosthesis Failure
• Respiratory Aspiration (prevention & control)
• Secondary Prevention
• Self Care