Dual interlocking tracheostoma vents.
This article describes a technique for fabricating interlocking custom tracheostoma vents for use in patients with bidirectional tracheostomas or tracheostoma fistulas secondary to tracheostenosis. The interlocking nature of the tracheostoma vents allows easy placement and removal from a tracheostoma or tracheostoma fistulas that would not be possible with a single tracheostoma vent. A 5 x 10-mm opening in the inferior portion of the prosthesis allows the patient with intact vocal cords to phonate by occluding the opening of the prosthesis and forcing air through the prosthesis into the subglottal area. The rigid acrylic resin of the prosthesis maintains the patency of the tracheostoma or tracheostoma fistula while a resilient material in the peristomal area reduces the pressure and potential irritation. The steps involved in the fabrication of the dual interlocking custom tracheostoma vents are easy and require no elaborate laboratory equipment.
School of Dental Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
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McKinstry
D006801:Humans; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010699:Phonation; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D013070:Speech Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D014132:Trachea / Q000473:pathology; D014139:Tracheostomy / Q000295:instrumentation*