title: Blom-Singer prostheses--an 11 year experience of primary and secondary procedures.
abstract: Over the past 11 years, 25 primary and 29 secondary tracheo-oesophageal punctures have been performed in 51 laryngectomees. Pre-operative assessment is required for the secondary procedure. Both primary and secondary procedures require intensive speech therapy after fitting of the prosthesis. Fifty-four per cent of the primary and 37% of the secondary patients attained long-term speech, the latter figure rising to 58% with newer valves and increasing experience. Failures were commonly due to psychological or prosthesis-related problems. Complications were relatively minor, none being life threatening. Seventy per cent of the long-term users were self caring. Adequate rehabilitation counselling and support is necessary to ensure long-term use of the prosthesis.
authors.affiliation: Otolaryngology Unit, Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh, UK.
authors.forename: A I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Kerr
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Denholm
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Sanderson
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Anderson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003376:Counseling; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007825:Laryngectomy; D007830:Larynx / Q000601:surgery; D007831:Larynx, Artificial; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010699:Phonation; D013064:Speech Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000628:therapy; D013070:Speech Therapy; D013072:Speech, Esophageal; D014132:Trachea / Q000601:surgery; D014139:Tracheostomy; D014832:Voice Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000628:therapy; D014833:Voice Quality; D014834:Voice Training