title: Practice of laryngectomy rehabilitation interventions: a perspective from Australia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To provide a perspective of contemporary practice in rehabilitation of speech and swallowing in patients undergoing total laryngectomy in Australia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In Australia, the preferred method of voice rehabilitation is by the use of tracheo-oesophageal voice prosthesis. Dysphagia is an ongoing problem and the use of adjuvant radiation and chemotherapy compounds this problem. There are difficulties associated with surgery because of the variation in disease involvement of pharyngeal mucosa and musculature, as well as difficulties associated with healing in previously chemoradiated surgical fields.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This article demonstrates the need for careful consideration of surgical technique, particularly in closure of the neopharynx in the chemoradiated patient. It encourages further research into the problems of speech and particularly swallowing in this patient population, as these problems impact significantly on the quality of life.
authors: Department of Surgery, University of Adelaide, and Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia. suren@krishnanmedical.com.au
authors: Suren
authors: S
authors: Krishnan
authors: Julia
authors: J
authors: Maclean
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation; D006801:Humans; D007825:Laryngectomy / Q000379:methods / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D007831:Larynx, Artificial; D000857:Olfaction Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D013071:Speech, Alaryngeal; D013651:Taste Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation