PURPOSE: To evaluate and correlate the amplitude of esophageal contractions triggered by swallowing water with dynamic extension and habitual, strong and weak sound intensity in total laryngectomees wearing a tracheoesophageal prosthesis. METHODS: Thirty total laryngectomees using tracheoesophageal voice with a phonatory prosthesis were evaluated by measuring the amplitude of contractions in the proximal, middle and distal esophagus and the pressure of the pharyngoesophageal transition by manometry. In order to measure vocal intensity the subject was asked to emit phonation of the vowel /a/ at habitual, strong and weak intensity which was captured with a sound pressure meter. Dynamic extension was calculated by subtracting strong intensity from weak intensity. RESULTS: A positive correlation was observed between contraction amplitude and dynamic extension in the proximal (rho: 0.45; p=0.01) and distal (rho: 0.41; p=0.02) esophagus There was no correlation with other parameters.. Total laryngectomees wearing a phonatory prosthesis with a dynamic extension above 21 dBNPS had greater contraction amplitude than laryngectomees with a dynamic extension below this value. CONCLUSIONS: There was a positive correlation between pressure amplitude in the proximal and distal esophagus and increased dynamic extension. The individuals with normal dynamic extension had greater contraction amplitude in the proximal esophagus than individuals with dynamic extension lower than the expected values for age.

PURPOSE: To assess the effect of a program of singing training on the voice of total laryngectomees wearing tracheoesophageal voice prosthesis, considering the quality of alaryngeal phonation, vocal extension and the musical elements of tunning and legato. METHODS: Five laryngectomees wearing tracheoesophageal voice prosthesis completed the singing training program over a period of three months, with exploration of the strengthening of the respiratory muscles and vocalization and with evaluation of perceptive-auditory and singing voice being performed before and after 12 sessions of singing therapy. RESULTS: After the program of singing voice training, the quality of tracheoesophageal voice showed improvement or the persistence of the general degree of dysphonia for the emitted vowels and for the parameters of roughness and breathiness. For the vowel "a", the pitch was displaced to grave in two participants and to acute in one, and remained adequate in the others. A similar situation was observed also for the vowel "i". After the singing program, all participants presented tunning and most of them showed a greater presence of legato. The vocal extension improved in all participants. CONCLUSION: Singing training seems to have a favorable effect on the quality of tracheoesophageal phonation and on singing voice.

OBJETIVO: Correlacionar a medida do tempo máximo de fonação (TMF) com o volume de ar pulmonar expirado no primeiro segundo do sopro (VEF1) e comparar o TMF, emissão do "s", "z" e relação s/z em indivíduos saudáveis e indivíduos com doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica (DPOC). MÉTODOS: Foram avaliados 14 voluntários saudáveis, com média de idade de 65 anos, e 16 indivíduos com DPOC, com média de idade de 68 anos. O diagnóstico da doença foi clínico e também obtido por exames da função pulmonar. Os participantes foram submetidos à espirometria para apreciação dos parâmetros VEF1, capacidade vital forçada (CVF) e o índice de Tiffeneau (VEF1/CVF). Registrou-se a emissão prolongada das vogais "a", "i", "u" para análise do tempo máximo de fonação na condição normal e forçada e aferiu-se a relação s/z após a sustentação dos fonemas /s/ e /z/. RESULTADOS: Nos dois grupos, o TMF com a fonação normal foi menor do que o tempo máximo de fonação, com a fonação forçada. A mediana do TMF do grupo controle foi maior do que a do grupo com DPOC, com a fonação normal e a fonação forçada. Não houve correlação entre o tempo máximo de fonação e os valores de VEF1 nos grupos. CONCLUSÃO: Pacientes com DPOC tem diminuição do tempo máximo de fonação e a relação s/z sugere falta de coaptação glótica. Não houve correlação do TMF e a medida do VEF1.

PURPOSE: This study correlates the extent of maximum phonation time (MPT) with the volume of air exhaled in the first second pulmonary (FEV1) and compares the MPT emission of /s/, /z/ and s/z ratio in healthy subjects and those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). METHODS: We studied 14 normal volunteers (control group), mean age 65 years, and 16 patients with COPD, mean age 68 years. The diagnosis of COPD was done by clinical and pulmonary function evaluation. Participants underwent spirometry for analysis of the parameters FEV1, forced vital capacity (FVC) and Tiffeneau index (FEV1/FVC). The maximum phonation time, along with phonemes /s/ and /z/, s/z ratio correlation, and maximum phonation time in both normal and forced phonation were collected and recorded. RESULTS: In both groups, the maximum phonation time with normal phonation was lower than the maximum phonation time with forced phonation. The median of the maximum phonation time in the control group was higher than in the COPD group. There was no correlation between the maximum phonation time and FEV1, in normal volunteers and patients with COPD. CONCLUSION: Patients with COPD have decreased maximum phonation time, while the s/z ratio does not suggest changes in the level of the vocal folds, since the values found were within the normal range. There was no correlation of the TMF and the measure of FEV1.

TEMA: reabilitação do laringectomizado total. OBJETIVO: correlacionar a proficiência de voz e de fala de laringectomizados totais usuários de prótese traqueoesofágica com a pressão intraluminal da transição faringoesofágica no repouso e durante a fonação. MÉTODO: foram estudados 12 laringectomizados totais com voz traqueoesofágica, usuários de prótese fonatória, submetidos à coleta e registro do material de voz e da fala, que foram avaliados por três expertos, utilizando-se um protocolo de julgamento geral da comunicação traqueoesofágica. Em seguida, os indivíduos foram encaminhados à manometria esofágica para avaliar a pressão intraluminal da transição faringoesofágica durante a fonação e no repouso. RESULTADOS: durante a fonação, os indivíduos caracterizados como bons falantes (16,7%) pelos expertos apresentaram valores médios de amplitude de pressão na transição faringoesofágica de 27,48mmHg. Entre os falantes moderados (52,5%), obteve-se amplitude média de 30,63mmHg e para os piores falantes (30,8%), 38,72mmHg. Durante o repouso, os melhores falantes apresentaram pressão média de 14,72mmHg, os moderados, 13,04mmHg e os piores falantes, 3,54mmHg. CONCLUSÃO: os melhores falantes apresentaram os menores valores de amplitude de pressão durante a fonação. Em contrapartida, a pressão em repouso foi maior para os bons falantes e menor para os piores, sugerindo que a elevação da pressão na transição faringoesofágica durante a fonação prejudica a qualidade da comunicação traqueoesofágica com a prótese fonatória.

BACKGROUND: rehabilitation of individuals with total laryngectomy. AIM: to correlate the voice and speech proficiency of individuals with total laryngectomy, users of tracheoesophageal, prosthesis with the intraluminal pharyngoesophageal transition pressure at rest and during phonation. METHOD: twelve individuals with total laryngectomy and with tracheoesophageal voice, users of speech prosthesis, were submitted to a voice and speech sample gathering and registration. These individuals were assessed by three experts using a specific protocol for the evaluation of tracheoesophageal communication. Individuals also underwent esophageal manometry in order to evaluate the intraluminal pharyngoesophageal transition pressure during rest and phonation. RESULTS: during phonation, individuals who had been characterized by the experts as good speakers (16.7%) presented average values of pressure amplitude during pharyngoesophageal transition of 27.48mmHg. Average amplitude of 30.63mmHg was observed for individuals classified as moderate speakers (52.5%), and of 38.72mmHg for individuals classified as poor speakers (30.8%). During rest, the good speakers presented an average pressure of 14.72mmHg, the moderate speakers of 13.04mmHg and the poor speakers of 3.54mmHg. CONCLUSION: the good speakers presented the lowest amplitude values of pharyngoesophageal transition pressure during phonation. However, the pressure observed in the rest condition was higher for the good speakers and lower for the poor speakers, suggesting that the raise in the pharyngoesophageal transition pressure during phonation damages the quality of tracheoesophageal communication when using speech prosthesis.

Várias técnicas para a reconstrução da laringe, pós laringectomias parciais verticais, são citadas na literatura, algumas utilizando estruturas da própria laringe, como a prega vestibular, porém, poucas dão destaque à análise das funções laríngeas após estas reconstruções. Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar as funções laríngeas em pacientes submetidos à cordectomia completa (tipo IV), reconstruídos com retalho de prega vestibular. FORMA DE ESTUDO: Estudo de coorte transversal. MATERIAL E MÉTODO: Dez pacientes, nove do sexo masculino e um do sexo feminino, com idades entre 45 e 75 anos, e média de 64,5, com carcinomas glóticos tratados por cordectomias totais ou completas (tipo IV) e reconstruídos com retalho de prega vestibular, foram submetidos a videolaringoestroboscopia, onde se avaliou a permeabilidade laríngea, o posicionamento do retalho, o fechamento laríngeo, a movimentação das aritenóides e a característica da fonte sonora: vibrátil ou friccional, e quando vibrátil, a localização e as estruturas que a compunham. A qualidade vocal foi analisada por avaliação perceptiva auditiva e objetiva computadorizada. A função de proteção das vias aéreas durante a deglutição foi realizada pela avaliação endoscópica da deglutição. RESULTADOS: Os resultados evidenciaram que não houve necessidade de manter a traqueostomia no pós-operatório tardio, pois a luz laríngea reconstruída mantinha-se pérvia. A função de proteção estava mantida em todos os casos, a coaptação completa em 30% e somente um paciente teve a movimentação da aritenóide limitada devido à imobilidade do lado operado. Evidenciaram, também, que havia fonte sonora vibrátil em 90% dos casos e que em todos a prega vestibular participava da sua composição. Em sete pacientes a fonte sonora vibrátil se localizava na região glótica. A análise computadorizada revelou freqüência fundamental média de 177,5 Hz, jitter médio de 1,11% e shimmer de 7,04%. Pela escala GRBAS, um paciente apresentou voz normal e 4 tiveram disfonia discreta. CONCLUSÕES: A reconstrução laríngea pós-cordectomia realizada com o retalho da prega vestibular tornou possível emissão de voz normal (freqüência fundamental 205 Hz, jitter 0,13%, shimmer 1,16%), proporcionando coaptação completa em 30% dos casos, fonte sonora vibrátil na região glótica em 70% e participação do retalho como estrutura vibrátil em 90%, além de preservar as funções laríngeas de respiração e proteção das vias aéreas durante a deglutição.

Several reports of techniques for larynx reconstruction after partial vertical laryngectomy are available in the literature, some of them using structures of the larynx itself such as the vestibular fold, but few have emphasized analysis of laryngeal function after reconstruction. Thus, the objective of the present study was to assess laryngeal function in patients submitted to total or complete cordectomy (type IV) followed by reconstruction with vestibular fold flap. STUDY DESIGN: Cohort transversal. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Ten patients, nine males and one female aged 45 to 75 years (mean age: 64.5 years), with glottis carcinomas treated by total or complete cordectomy (type IV) and reconstructed with vestibular fold flap were submitted to videolaryngostroboscopy for assessment of laryngeal permeability, flap positioning, laryngeal closure, arytenoid movement, characteristics of speech sound source (vibrating or frictional) and, when the source was vibrating, location and structures of the sound source. Voice quality was evaluated by perceptual acoustic assessment and by objective computer analysis. The function of lower airway protection during swallowing was analyzed by endoscopic evaluation of swallowing. RESULTS: There was no need to maintain tracheostomy during the late postoperative period since the reconstructed laryngeal lumen remained pervious. The function of airway protection during swallowing was preserved in all patients, with full coaptation of laryngeal structures in 30% of the cases and one patient presented immobility of the operated hemilarynx in midline position. Vibrating sound source was detected in 90% of the cases and was located in the glottic region in seven patients. The vestibular fold flap participated in the composition of the vibrating sound source in all cases. Computerized analysis revealed the following mean values: fundamental frequency, 177.5 Hz, jitter 1.11% and shimmer 7.04%. Using GRBAS scale we observed normal voice in one patient and four patients with discrete dysphonia. CONCLUSIONS: Laryngeal reconstruction with vestibular fold flap after cordectomy was able to maintain laryngeal function, providing normal voice according to perceptive auditory or acoustic analysis (fundamental frequency, 205 Hz, jitter 0.13% and shimmer 1.16%), with full coaptation of laryngeal structures in 30% of the cases, vibrating sound source in the glottic region in 70% and participation of the flap as a vibrating structure in 90%, as well as the maintenance of the laryngeal functions of breathing and airway protection during swallowing.