Total Laryngectomy

Total laryngectomy is the surgical technique by which the larynx is removed, creating direct communication between the trachea and the outside through an opening of a hole in the base of the neck called a tracheostoma. The most common causes for which it is performed are laryngeal or upper airway tumors.

In a laryngectomized person, the total lack of larynx and, therefore, glottis, has been supplanted by the tracheostoma for breathing and by the hypopharynx and the upper mouth of the esophagus, called “neoglotis” and “pseudoglottis” (false glottis), to originate the voice.

After a total laryngectomy, the recovery of the patient's voice is possible through three different mechanisms: electrolarynx, Esophageal voice (or erygmophonic or oroesophageal) and speaks tracheoesophageal with voice prosthesis. Of these three mechanisms, the most natural is the esophageal voice.