Provoxweb

  • General Introduction
  • Voice Rehabilitation
    • 1. The Provox System>
      • Provox1 Voice Prosthesis
        • Provox2 Voice Prosthesis
          • Provox Vega & SmartInserter
            • Provox ActiValve
              • Provox Sizer
                • Provox Dilator
                  • Provox XtraFlange
                    • Provox Brush-Flush-Plug
                      • Provox HME
                        • Provox FreeHands HME
                          • Provox LaryTube
                            • Provox LaryButton
                              • Provox Surgical Set
                              • 2. Surgery>
                                • Primary Prosthetic Voice Rehabilitation>
                                  • Total laryngectomy
                                    • Surgical technique primary TEP
                                      • Primary tonicity control PE-segment
                                        • Tracheostoma construction
                                        • Secondary prosthetic voice rehabilitation>
                                          • Indications
                                            • Preoperative screening
                                              • Surgical technique secondary TEP
                                                • Alternative technique secondary TEP
                                                • Secondary treatment PE segment hypertonicity>
                                                  • Introduction
                                                    • Hypertonicity treatment with Botox
                                                      • References
                                                        • Surgical constrictor pharyngeus myotomy
                                                        • Fistula closure>
                                                          • Indications
                                                            • Surgical technique
                                                            • Stoma revision>
                                                              • Introduction
                                                                • Surgical techniques of tracheostoma reconstruction
                                                                  • Comments
                                                                    • Conclusions
                                                                      • References
                                                                      • Pharynx reconstruction and voice rehabilitation>
                                                                        • References
                                                                      • 3. Replacement>
                                                                        • Indications
                                                                          • Replacement procedures>
                                                                            • Choosing the right prosthesis length
                                                                              • Provox Vega & Smart Inserter
                                                                                • Provox2 voice prosthesis
                                                                                  • Provox1 voice prosthesis
                                                                                    • Replacement of other voice prostheses by Provox
                                                                                    • Additional remarks on prosthesis replacement
                                                                                    • 4. Troubleshooting>
                                                                                      • Introduction
                                                                                        • Device-related replacement issues>
                                                                                          • Leakage through the prosthesis
                                                                                            • Candida overgrowth
                                                                                              • Very frequent replacement due to leakage
                                                                                              • Fistula-related issues and problems>
                                                                                                • Leakage around the prosthesis and the prosthesis is too long
                                                                                                  • Insertion of a Provox voice prosthesis during TEP leading to leakage around the device
                                                                                                    • Leakage around the prosthesis even with the shortest length (4.5 mm)
                                                                                                      • Local infection, prosthesis seems to be OK
                                                                                                        • Local infection, prosthesis displaced
                                                                                                          • Prosthesis extruding from the fistula tract
                                                                                                            • Granulation tissue interfering with the prosthesis
                                                                                                              • Interfering hypertrophic tissue in the TEP area
                                                                                                                • Voicing increasingly difficult, not improved after replacement
                                                                                                                  • Anterograde insertion is difficult due to local infection
                                                                                                                    • Voice sounds strenuous and speaking requires to much effort
                                                                                                                      • There seems to be a 'separation of the party wall'
                                                                                                                        • Voicing is blocked by finger pressure on the stoma/voice prosthesis
                                                                                                                          • Elevated intra-tracheal pressure and effort for voicing
                                                                                                                            • Some bleeding during and after removal of the prosthesis
                                                                                                                              • Prosthesis has disappeared and seems to be ingested
                                                                                                                                • Prosthesis had disappeared and seems to be aspirated
                                                                                                                                  • TE fistula too wide to hold a voice prosthesis, surgery not an option
                                                                                                                                    • Stenosis of the neopharynx
                                                                                                                                      • Anterograde replacement is difficult due to a small stoma
                                                                                                                                        • Deep stoma interfering with application of peristomal devices
                                                                                                                                          • TE fistula deep down in trachea, making replacement troublesome
                                                                                                                                            • TE fistula migrated upwards outside the trachea, voicing problematic
                                                                                                                                              • During retrograde insertion the guide wire gets stuck in the neoglottis
                                                                                                                                                • How much to downsize in case of shortening of the fistula tract
                                                                                                                                                  • Is it possible to remove the prosthesis by pushing the device into the esophagus
                                                                                                                                                  • Voicing problems
                                                                                                                                                    • Algorithm for troubleshooting>
                                                                                                                                                      • Main complaint: Leakage
                                                                                                                                                        • Main complaint: Increased voicing effort
                                                                                                                                                      • 5. Speech Therapy>
                                                                                                                                                        • Introduction
                                                                                                                                                          • Preoperative counseling
                                                                                                                                                            • Outline of voice therapy
                                                                                                                                                              • Important basic principles in voice rehabilitation in prosthetic speech
                                                                                                                                                                • Some points of attention for the 'finishing touch'
                                                                                                                                                                  • General aspects of patient instruction
                                                                                                                                                                    • Problem solving
                                                                                                                                                                      • Conclusion
                                                                                                                                                                      • 6. Hands-free Speech>
                                                                                                                                                                        • Introduction
                                                                                                                                                                          • Provox FreeHands HME automatic speaking valve
                                                                                                                                                                            • Attachment of the valve>
                                                                                                                                                                              • Peristomal attachment
                                                                                                                                                                                • Intratracheal fixation
                                                                                                                                                                                • Assembling and disassembling the HME
                                                                                                                                                                                  • Choosing the membrane
                                                                                                                                                                                    • Proper adjustment of the cough-relief valve
                                                                                                                                                                                      • Using the walk and talk position
                                                                                                                                                                                        • Use of the cleaning container
                                                                                                                                                                                          • Speech therapy. What to practice to optimize hands-free speech>
                                                                                                                                                                                            • Closure of the membrane
                                                                                                                                                                                              • Breath-support/breath-voice coordination
                                                                                                                                                                                                • Phrase length, speech rate, maximum phonation time
                                                                                                                                                                                                  • Pitch, loudness, intonation
                                                                                                                                                                                                    • Shouting
                                                                                                                                                                                                      • Decrease backpressure
                                                                                                                                                                                                        • Hypertonicity/spasm of the neoglottis
                                                                                                                                                                                                          • Hypotonicity of the neoglottis
                                                                                                                                                                                                            • Confusing hands-free TE-speech with esophageal speech
                                                                                                                                                                                                            • Conclusion
                                                                                                                                                                                                              • Troubleshooting>
                                                                                                                                                                                                                • No voice sound
                                                                                                                                                                                                                  • Weak/whisper/aphonic voice
                                                                                                                                                                                                                    • Air leakage under membrane>
                                                                                                                                                                                                                      • Air escaping underneath cough-relief valve
                                                                                                                                                                                                                        • Shortness of breath
                                                                                                                                                                                                                          • Cough-relief valve opens when patient is speaking loud
                                                                                                                                                                                                                            • Seal of the adhesive does not last long
                                                                                                                                                                                                                              • Problems with intratracheal fixation
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                • Too much noise of cough-relief valve when coughing
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                • References
                                                                                                                                                                                                                              • 7. Voice Research>
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                • Introduction
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  • Perceptual evaluations
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    • Acoustic analyses
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      • Maximum phonation time
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        • Videofluoroscopy
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          • Summary
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            • References
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          • Pulmonary Rehabilitation
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            • Introduction
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              • Heat and Moisture Exchangers (HME's)>
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                • Treatment aspects
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  • Prevention aspects
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  • Provox HME>
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    • Compliance aspects
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      • Improvements in compliance
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        • Improvements in voicing
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          • Early post-operative pulmonary hygiene
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            • Breathing resistance
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              • Newest Provox HMEs
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              • Treatment with inhalation medication
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                • Conclusions
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  • References
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  • Olfaction Rehabilitation
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    • Introduction
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      • Clinical research on postlaryngectomy olfaction
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        • Clinical research on olfaction rehabilitation
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          • Considerations on postlaryngectomy olfaction rehabilitation
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            • References
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            • Media etc.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              • References
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                • Copyright information
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  • Media-downloads>
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    • Animations
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      • Video clips
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        • Sounds
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          • PDF

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Choosing the membrane

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        The FreeHands Starter kit contains three different membranes; light (white), medium (blue), and strong (green). The valve comes with the blue membrane and most patients are found to be comfortable with this membrane. When fitting the FreeHands it is advised to try to speak with the other membranes as well in order to select the optimal membrane for the patient. The white membrane closes at a lower air pressure then the blue membrane and the green one closes at a higher air pressure. During excessive breathing the air pressure might equal the pressure needed for closing the membrane. Therefore, the membrane that might seem optimal for voicing might be less optimal for breathing in some patients. It is advised to check with the patient when exhalation starts to close the valve. Check not only in rest, but also during slight physical activity. When the patient is aware of this, he or she is usually capable of controlling exhalation in order to avoid inadvertent closure of the membrane. For increased exhalation during physical exertion it is advised to use the ‘walk’ position of the device (see walk and talk position). The video clip enlightens this part of the fitting procedure.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        © The Netherlands Cancer Institute - 2003-11; ISBN 90-75575-05-X