Reconstruction of the voice after laryngectomy.

Voice reconstruction and rehabilitation are important for quality of life for patients after surgical ablation of tumors in the larynx or pharynx. In addition to the esophageal voice, the artificial larynx, and external voice devices, the following procedures have been developed: (1) after laryngectomy with preservation of pharynx, neoglottis or TEP can be performed; (2) after laryngopharyngectomy a forearm flap with TEP, or a jejunal transfer with TEP or voice tube shunt can be selected; and (3) after laryngopharyngoesophagectomy, either pharyngogastrotomy with TEP, or colon segment interposition with TEP can be employed. The voice tube shunt is improving, and allograft transplantation is currently under investigation.