Timing of tracheoesophageal puncture for voice restoration: Primary vs. secondary

A retrospective census of 106 cases with tracheoesophageal puncture (TEP) compared success and complications in speech restoration between TEP coincidental with or subsequent to la-ryngectomy. The complications of those patients with primary TEP (68) were largely the effects of cancer and its treatment. When controlling for recurrent disease and patients still in speech therapy, approximately 90% of both groups achieved surgically restored speech. With this parity in TE speech success and occurrences of complications, puncture at the time of the laryngectomy appears to be an effective, expeditious procedure for vocal rehabilitation.