ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to improve attachment of automatic tracheostoma valves, the knowledge on tracheostoma geometry, and its clinical influences preferred. This article investigates whether the number of removed trachea rings, incision of the sternocleidomastoid muscles, neck dissection, reconstruction, time after operation, and age have any effect on the (peri)stomal geometry of the patient. METHODS: (Peri)stomas of 191 patients from 10 institutes worldwide were photographed, measured, and compared. RESULTS: Paired comparisons between the number of trachea rings removed showed significant differences in horizontal and vertical trachea-opening diameters, but failed to demonstrate an effect in the depth of the stoma. T tests did not demonstrate significant differences in peristomal geometry between the sternocleidomastoid-cleaved and non-cleaved group. CONCLUSION: The number of removed tracheal rings during laryngectomy does not seem to influence stoma depth. However, this study does not demonstrate that cleaving the sternocleidomastoid muscle (SCM) at the time of a laryngectomy will result in a geometrically flatter stoma.
