Voice restoration after laryngopharyngoesophagectomy.

Although various methods of alaryngeal communication after laryngectomy have been described, little attention has been given to voice restoration after laryngopharyngoesophagectomy. This article deals with our experience reconstructing the hypopharynx and cervical esophagus in five patients by the use of microvascular free tissue grafts. Voice restoration procedures with use of a Blom-Singer prostheses were used uniformly and resulted in the attainment of functional voice in each patient. It is our feeling that this method should be used equally in patients undergoing both traditional laryngectomy and laryngopharyngoesophagectomy.