[Laryngectomy - a treatment on the way out? Voice restoration, quo vadis?].
BACKGROUND
The number of laryngectomized patients in stationary rehabilitation decreases, while the number of laryngectomized - carrying a voice-prosthesis - increases.


METHODS
From 1980 to 1999 more than 7000 laryngectomized participated in stationary rehabilitation.


RESULTS
The number of laryngectomized dropped from an average of more than 400 per year between 1980 and 1989 to less than 300 between 1990 and 1999 to merely 130 in 1999. Until 1992 oesophageal speech dominated over voice-prosthesis with less than 1 %. Since 1994 the number of voice-prosthesis is increasing at about 10 % a year to 60 % in 1998 and 1999. Patients with voice-prosthesis were insufficiently cared for medically and left on their own in matters concerning their voice function.


CONCLUSIONS
The decreasing number of laryngectomized is in part caused by economic reasons, and in part by increasingly organ-saving therapeutical procedures. Logopedic therapy for patients with voice-prosthesis results in an earlier and wider range of voice function.
Seinsch
W
W
Klinik Alpenland, Bad Reichenhall.
D006801:Humans; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery; D007825:Laryngectomy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007831:Larynx, Artificial; D013072:Speech, Esophageal; D013997:Time Factors