title: Long-term results of vocal rehabilitation after total laryngectomy with the low-resistance, indwelling Provox voice prosthesis system.
abstract: A low-resistance indwelling prosthesis for vocal rehabilitation after total laryngectomy, Provox was developed in the Netherlands Cancer Institute 5 years ago. The long-term results in 132 patients using this prosthesis are now reported. The mean and median device life of the prosthesis in the 75 patients in long-term follow-up are 235 and 141 days respectively. Good to fair vocal rehabilitation was achieved in 92% of the patients. Statistical analysis revealed a significant relationship of the device life with the original tumour site (P = 0.0078). Radiotherapy had a borderline (P = 0.0652) negative influence on the device life but not on prosthesis-related complications. Increasing follow-up time has a positive influence on the device life of the prosthesis (P < 0.0001).
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology/Head & Neck Surgery, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Hilgers
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Balm
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007825:Laryngectomy; D007831:Larynx, Artificial / Q000009:adverse effects; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013071:Speech, Alaryngeal; D014834:Voice Training