The successful use of the tracheoesophageal voice prosthesis for speech rehabilitation of the total laryngectomy patient has lead to common application of this device. Although the creation of a tracheoesophageal fistula is a simple procedure, it is not without complications. A review of 104 patients who underwent this procedure indicated a complication rate of 25%. Complications were related primarily to the fistula and included migration and progressive enlargement of the puncture, persistent or recurring infection of the fistula site, aspiration pneumonia, and death. Other problems included aspiration of the prosthesis, vertebral osteomyelitis, and tracheal stomal and esophageal stenosis. Many of these patients required hospitalization, intravenous antibiotics, and major surgical procedures to treat these complications. Guidelines for early identification and management of these problems as well as methods to prevent complications are discussed.

This study examined charts and 16-mm pictures or videotapes of 138 patients with carcinoma of the larynx treated during the last 10 years. Among these patients, 19 were nonsmokers and nondrinkers or only light social drinkers with moderate to severe gastroesophageal reflux (GER). Serial cinephotographs are presented with follow-up of up to 10 years. The common presence of GER in these nonsmoking, nondrinking patients and the probable role of this chronic irritative disorder as a causative agent in carcinoma of the laryngopharynx are discussed.

Thirty-two unselected male patients with Parkinson's disease were examined by telescopic cinelaryngoscopy. Correlation of vocal abnormality and general neurologic symptoms with the laryngoscopic examination leads to the conclusion that the phonatory abnormalities noted in Parkinson's disease are related to rigidity in the phonatory posture of the larynx. The described dysfunctions correlated with the symmetry of trunk and limb rigidity in 100% of the patients.

Early reports of a percutaneous dilatational technique for tracheotomy tube placement have been encouraging. This method uses a needle for placement into the trachea, a J-tipped guidewire, and progressively larger dilators to widen the stoma for insertion of a tracheotomy tube. A prospective study was undertaken to assess the efficacy of this percutaneous tracheotomy technique. Serious complications were encountered, including difficulty with dilatation, excessive bleeding, false passage of the tracheotomy tube, and death. Because of this unacceptable morbidity, the study was terminated after enrollment of only seven patients. Percutaneous tracheotomy is a dangerous procedure with potential for catastrophic complications. These complications were encountered by third- and fourth-year surgical residents performing the procedure under close supervision. If the puncture technique is further popularized and attempted by untrained physicians, these authors predict many disasters.

Repeated analysis of cinephotographic and cinefluorographic studies, correlated with clinical observations, has helped elucidate the causes of contact ulcers. Habitual throat clearing, excessive glottic attack in initiation of speech, and, most important, acid regurgitation secondary to hiatal hernia are the causal factors of contact ulcers. Contact granulomas produced by intubation trauma and other granulomas are compared and discussed. The successful treatment of contact ulcers and granulomas is dependent on elimination of vocal abuse, cessation of throat clearing, and control of the factors that cause the irritation and throat clearing.CONTACT ulcers and granulomas of the larynx are relatively uncommon but well-recognized clinical and pathologic entities. Jackson' first used the term "contact ulcer" to describe the unilateral or bilateral ulceration over the vocal processus of the arytenoid, with or without granulations. He and most other authors attributed the causative factors to mechanical traurna.>"Contributions to a better understanding of the several mechansims of production and approaches to treatment were made by Peacher and Hollnger,t von Leden