The aim of the study was to compare device life of more recent indwelling voice prostheses Provox Vega and Blom-Singer Dual Valve to device life of well-known standard devices (Provox 2, Blom-Singer Classic). In a prospective, non-randomised study, device life of Blom-Singer Classic, Blom-Singer Dual Valve, Provox2, Provox Vega and Provox ActiValve voice prostheses was recorded in a group of 102 laryngectomised patients. In total 749 voice prosthesis were included. Average overall life time was 108 days, median 74 days. The prosthesis with the longest dwell time was the Provox ActiValve (median 291 days). Provox Vega had longer device life compared with Provox2 (median 92 days vs 66 days; p = 0.006) and compared with Blom-Singer Classic (median 92 days vs 69 days; p = 0.004). In conclusion, device lifetimes of Provox Vega and ActiValve were better than those of Provox2 and the Blom-Singer Classic. New voice prostheses, with a defined valve opening pressure (Provox Vega, Provox ActiValve, Blom-Singer Dual Valve) had longer lifetimes than prostheses without a defined opening pressure (Blom-Singer Classic and Provox 2).

Zusammenfassung Bionomie, Ökologie, Verbreitung und forstliche Bedeutung von sechs mittelamerikanischen, in Guatemala und Honduras an Pinus‐Arten vorkommenden Spezies der Gattung Ips De Geer werden beschrieben; es sind dies Ips concinnus Mannerheim, Ips interstitialis Eichhoff, Ips confusus Le Conte, Ips cribricollis Eichhoff, Ips plastographus Le Conte und Ips bonanseai Hopkins. Eine Bestimmungstabelle nach kennzeichnenden Merkmalen der Käfer und der Fraßbilder ist angefügt. Summary The bionomics, ecology, distribution and importance to forestry of six species of the genus Ips Degeer, occurring on Pinus spp. in Guatemala and Honduras, are described. These are Ips concinnus Mannerheim, Ips interstitialis Eichhoff, Ips confusus Leconte, Ips cribricollis Eichhoff, Ips plastographus Leconte and Ips bonanseai Hopkins. A key for the identification of the beetles and their galleries is appended.

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Using a voice prosthesis with a valve containing silver oxide can normalize and even increase the in-situ lifetime in patients with frequent changing procedures caused by fungal growth on the valve. Therefore we recommend the use of this type of voice prosthesis for those patients as reduction of costs and effort results.