ABSTRACT
Introduction: Since 1991, we have done the tracheoesophageal shunt as described by Amatsu in candidates to a total laryngectomy. Our goal is to provide the patients a better speech rehabilitation that that obtained by the non-surgical techniques, and by doing so, lessen the oncological treatment impact on the patient's quality of life. Aim: This work revises the experience of our institution with the procedure during a 10 years period. Study design: Clinical retrospective. Material and method: We had 54 patients submitted to the procedure, 3 women e 51 men, with ages from 30 to 78 years old and a mean age of 59 years. All had scamous cell carcinoma, 10 from the piriform sinus, 2 from retrocricoide area, 6 from the supraglottis, 1 from the subglottis, 16 from the glottis and 19 were transglottic. According to the AJC staging system, 3 were stage II, 17 were stage III, 24 were stage IV and 10 were not staged. Previous radiotherapy as initial treatment had been done in 18 patients. During the laryngectomy, 33 patients had some type of neck dissection and in 15 of these patients the neck dissection was done bilaterally. A myocutaneous pectoralis major flap was needed in 5 cases and a deltopectoralis flap was used in one case. Postoperative radiotherapy was used in 20 patients. Local infections occurred in 36 percent of the cases, and all had a good outcome. One patient died in the early postoperative period. Results: Speech rehabilitation by the technique was successful in 70 percent of the cases. Aspiration occurred in 10 patients and, in 2 of these, the shunt had to be surgically closed. Conclusion: In conclusion, due to its low cost, good results with few complications, the Amatsu tracheoesophageal shunt continues in our service as the main technique for speech rehabilitation after laryngectomy