[Individual adjustment of tracheal valves in voice prosthesis patients with morphologically aberrant stoma relations].

Abstract

We present a new method of individual tracheal valve fitting for laryngectomized patients with voice prosthesis. In cases with morphologically poor tracheostoma the adhesion of the tracheal cannula or valve ring might be impaired by reduced contact surface to the skin. In some cases obligatory circumferential occlusion leads to stretching and higher tension of the adhering ring. Our technique of individual fitting with a silicon adapter permits airtight, tension-free adherence of tracheal valves, or, if desired, facilitation of stoma-closing with a finger, when the tracheostoma is deformed or too big.