Vocal Rehabilitation and Quality of Life After Total Laryngectomy: State-of-the-Art and Systematic Review
Prosthesis
Maniaci, A., La Mantia, I., et al. (2023).
Prosthesis, 5(3), 587-601.
This systematic review investigates the impact of voice interventions on quality of life and vocal performance in patients who undergo laryngectomy as a treatment for advanced laryngeal neoplasms.
No funding received
December 1, 2001 to June 1, 2021
Original, published observational studies. Excludes case reports, editorials, letters to the editor, or reviews.
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Vocal rehabilitation interventions had mixed effects on voice and quality of life outcomes in patients with total laryngectomy secondary to advanced laryngeal neoplasm. Vocal rehabilitation options demonstrated the following benefits and limitations:<br />
<ul>
<li><strong>Tracheoesophageal voice </strong>provided the best vocal quality and intelligibility; however, prosthesis management was burdensome at times and was associated with complications (e.g., leakage, formation of granulation tissue).</li>
<li><strong>Esophageal voice</strong> eliminated the drawbacks of prosthesis management; however, acquiring esophageal voice was challenging and less tolerable to patients.</li>
<li><strong>Electrolaryngeal speech</strong> showed mixed voice and quality of life outcomes compared to tracheoesophageal or esophageal voice.</li>
</ul>
Inconsistent treatment effects between studies may be due to small sample sizes and heterogeneity regarding study design and patient characteristics.
