Further experience with Botox injection for tracheoesophageal speech failure.
BACKGROUND
Some patients fail to acquire tracheoesophageal (TE) speech after laryngectomy because of pharyngeal constrictor hypertonicity. Botox injection relieves hypertonicity, but there are little objective data regarding outcomes, duration of effect, and reinjection rates.


METHODS
Hypertonicity was identified by means of insufflation testing and confirmed videofluoroscopically in 23 unsuccessful TE speakers. Each patient received an EMG-guided Botox injection. Additional injections were offered if the first injection failed to produce fluent speech.


RESULTS
Overall, 20 of 23 patients (87%) achieved fluent TE speech production after Botox injections; 5 after additional injections. Two patients declined further intervention, and 1 failed to achieve fluent TE speech production even after 3 Botox injections. The longest sustained effect was 37 months, the shortest was 5 months for 1 patient who required reinjection of Botox to maintain her TE speech production.


CONCLUSIONS
Botox injection relieves constrictor hypertonicity in selected cases of TE speech failure with little need for reinjection to maintain long-term speech success.
Lewin
J S
JS
Department of Head and Neck Surgery, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd., Box 441, Houston, Texas 77030-4009, USA. jlewin@mdanderson.org
Bishop-Leone
J K
JK
Forman
A D
AD
Diaz
E M
EM
D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004576:Electromyography; D015155:Esophageal Spasm, Diffuse / Q000188:drug therapy; D004947:Esophagus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D007327:Insufflation; D007825:Laryngectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000534:rehabilitation; D008297:Male; D009122:Muscle Hypertonia / Q000188:drug therapy; D009222:Myotonia / Q000188:drug therapy; D010609:Pharyngeal Muscles / Q000473:pathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013060:Speech / Q000502:physiology; D013071:Speech, Alaryngeal / Q000379:methods; D014132:Trachea / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology
D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A