[Esophageal voice training and quality of life in laryngectomees].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the extensive and degree of physical rehabilitation improvement of the quality of life in laryngectomees.


METHODS
Forty nine patients who underwent total laryngectomies were trained by esophageal voice rehabilitation successfully. The questionnaires of performance status scale for head and neck cancer patients (PSS-HN) and the functional assessment of head and neck cancer therapy (FACT-H&N) were answered by them before esophageal voice training and 3 months after successful vocal rehabilitation.


RESULTS
Total laryngectomy deteriorated the quality of life in laryngectomees. The mean scores of PSS-HN scale and FACT-H&N questionnaire were lower than the criteria scores after patients underwent total laryngectomy, the mean score were 131. 4,90.6 respectively, the difference was significant statistically (t =53. 673, P <0.001) , (t = 67.44, P <0.001). After successful esophageal speech training, the mean scores of the laryngectomees were improved both in PSS-HN scale and FACT-H&N which were 240.4 and 103.7 respectively, the difference was significant statistically (t = 18.209, P < 0.001) , (t = 21.389, P<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
The quality of life in laryngectomees can be improved by physical rehabilitation and the esophageal voice training.
Lü
Chun-Mei
CM
Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Cancer Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100021, China.
Bian
Xue
X
Xu
Zhen-Gang
ZG
Tang
Ping-Zhang
PZ
Tu
Gui-Yi
GY
Yin
Yu-Lin
YL
Wang
Hong
H
Wu
Xiou-Ling
XL
Yang
Yanmei
Y
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007825:Laryngectomy / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D007831:Larynx, Artificial; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D013072:Speech, Esophageal; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014834:Voice Training