title: Brazilian tracheotomy speech valve: diaphragm pressure standardization.
abstract: Tracheotomy is performed in cases of upper airway obstruction or chronic pulmonary disorders. The Tracheotomy Speech Valves (TSV) improve communication and airway hygiene and humidification of tracheotomized patients.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To show the low cost Brazilian TSV and its use in speech rehabilitation of tracheotomized patients, to evaluate diaphragm opening resistance and comfort to the patient.
  
  
  METHODS
  Experimental, contemporary cohort.
  
  
  METHODS
  The TSV was used in 32 patients. The valve has a diaphragm within a stainless steel body with plastic fittings. We studied the level of respiratory comfort according to the degree of valve diaphragm resistance, 40, 50 and 60 shores.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All the patients used the TSV coupled to the cannula in a regular basis, 26 of them did it for more than 12 hours daily and from these, 14 used it for 24h daily. The diaphragm pressure obtained was that of 40 shores for 13 patients and 50 shores for 19 patients. 60 shores was never used.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  the metal TSV helps with speech without the need for closing the cannula with one's finger, and breathing was comfortable. We achieved standard diaphragm resistance. Currently all the patients from this study use this TSV with speech and 43.75% use it full time.
authors.affiliation: Serviço de Cabeça e Pescoço,Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Estadual de Campinas.
authors.forename: Angela Rúbia Oliveira
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Silveira
authors.forename: Marcelo Naoki
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Soki
authors.forename: Carlos Takahiro
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Chone
authors.forename: Ronny
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tah Y Ng
authors.forename: Eduardo George B
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.forename: Agrício Nubiato
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Crespo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing; D008875:Middle Aged; D013071:Speech, Alaryngeal / Q000295:instrumentation*; D014139:Tracheostomy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D014833:Voice Quality; D055815:Young Adult