In order to evaluate the results of voice and speech rehabilitation after total laryngectomy some acoustic parameters (fundamental frequency, waveform perturbation) were examined in 18 total laryngectomy patients. Eight of these subjects had previously been surgically rehabilitated with a trachealesophageal phonatory valve while 10 had been submitted to esophageal speech rehabilitation. Analysis of results has shown that trachealesophageal voices are more likely to provide a stable fundamental frequency; there is also a tendency toward more clearly defined harmonics; jitter and shimmer are more similar to the values of normal subjects compared with those observed in esophageal speech. Such results seem to depend on a more regular vibration pattern in the pharyngealesophageal segment, due to the more efficient expiratory flow in trachealesophageal speech. Moreover we were able to demonstrate a correlation between the objective parameters evaluated and the subjective score on speech acceptability.

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The present study evaluated the differences in aerodynamic behavior between the 1990 Provox and 1986 Staffieri voice prostheses for total laryngectomy patients. Both prostheses were submitted to in vitro laboratory testing to assess their aerodynamic behavior under different conditions of air flow through the valve and tracheal side pressure. In addition, six patients using the Provox and another six using the Staffieri prostheses were submitted to a dynamic study of phonation. This latter study evaluated the intratracheal pressure corresponding to the different intensities at which the vowel sound /a/ was pronounced. In vitro measurements revealed significant differences between the two prostheses, with the best results achieved with Provox. In contrast, the in vivo measurements did not reveal any significant differences between the two groups of patients in the 50-79 dBSPL range, although there was some difference at intensities equal to or greater than 80 dBSPL. Again, in this latter case the best results were achieved with the Provox. However, the ideal prosthesis has yet to be found. In some patients, the so-called low-resistance prostheses fail to maintain their aerodynamic performances, most likely because anatomic resistors interfere with the effort (i.e., pressure) required to produce a voice. At present the choice of prosthesis is best determined on an individual patient-to-patient basis.

Background Since last year, COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel Sars-Cov-2 virus, has been globally spread to all the world. COVID-19 infection among pregnant women has been described. However, transplacental transmission of Sars-Cov-2 virus from infected mother to the newborn is not yet established. The appropriate management of infants born to mothers with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 and the start of early breastfeeding are being debated. Case presentation We report a case of the joint management of a healthy neonate with his mother tested positive for Covid-19 before the delivery and throughout neonatal follow-up. The infection transmission from the mother to her baby is not described, even after a long period of contact between them and breastfeeding. Conclusion It may consider an appropriate practice to keep mother and her newborn infant together in order to facilitate their contact and to encourage breastfeeding, although integration with infection prevention measures is needed.