Keywords: laryngectomy, speech rehabilitation, tracheoesophageal shunt

Abstract: In 1980 Amatsu reported his technic of one stage tracheoesophageal shunt for the vocal rehabilitation after laryngectomy. From march 1991 to march 1992, six patients were submitted to the procedure in our service. Three patients had postoperative cutaneous fistulae but two were of small caliber and closed only with conservative tare. With a follow-up still short, from one to twelve months, five patients are alive without signs of disease. One patient died of neck recurrence. All patients developed voice of good quality. Two patients showed slight aspiration, during water ingestion, that was controlled only with finger compression of the shunt during ingestion. We concluded that the Amatsu tracheoesophageal shunt is a technic of great potential for the vocal rehabilitation and deserve a greater divulgation in our country because of its low cost, the facility to be learned and the good quality of voice obtained.