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

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Original Provox Voice Prosthesis

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        The original Provox Voice Prosthesis is a self-retaining, indwelling, easy to manage device for prosthetic voice rehabilitation after total laryngectomy.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        The prosthesis is suitable for laryngectomized patients with a tracheoesophageal (TE) fistula, also when created for several other types of voice prostheses. The Provox voice prosthesis is made of medical grade silicone rubber and is available in four shaft lengths, i.e. the distance between the esophageal and tracheal flange is 4.5, 6, 8 or 10 mm.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        The other dimensions of the prosthesis are: diameter of the esophageal flange 14.5 mm, oval tracheal flange 12 x 16 mm, inner diameter of the shaft 5 mm and outer diameter 7.5 mm (i.e. 22.5 Fr.).

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        The tracheal flange entails an introduction string. The valve is molded in one piece with the prosthesis and is supported by a radiopaque ring (20% barium sulphate), to enhance the visibility on X-ray examination.


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        The Provox voice prosthesis is inserted in the TE-fistula and remains in situ without replacement by the patient. Primary introduction at the time of total laryngectomy is the method of choice, but secondary introduction at a later stage is also easily accomplished.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        For the introduction and replacement of the prosthesis a special Guide Wire is available. This disposable instrument has a connector for easy attachment of the introduction string of the new prosthesis and an 8 mm stop for transoral removal of the remnant of the old prosthesis. It has a flexible tip, which facilitates its retrograde introduction through the esophagus and pharynx. If the guide wire becomes entrapped in the pharyngeal mucosa wall, the wire will bend near the tip and can still slide upwards through the pharynx.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Each prosthesis is packed together with a disposable scalpel and the disposable guide wire.

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