INTRODUCTION: Since 1873 when the first total laryngectomy was performed there is a scientific interest in develop and recover patients' verbal comunication. Great successes were done after 1979, that permitted the tracheoesophagical prosthesis be a reality. Even being a special conquest the vocal prosthesis has its complications. AIM: To evaluate its complications registered with the vocal prosthesis use and its relation with patients' clinical aspects and the prosthesis kind. METHODS: Ten total laryngectomised patients from the HCRP-FMRP-USP, Head and Neck ambulatory, were followed to complications manifestations with the prosthesis use. RESULTS: Complications as saliva and/or diet passage from the pharynx to the trachea, fungal infection, prosthesis dysfunction were registered and quantified in relation with radiotherapy and the prosthesis kind used. CONCLUSION: Even being a special development for patients' comunication and socialization, it offers some difficulties and complications that have to be observed and more studies are necessary to better evaluate these aspects.
Artificial laryn; Laryngectomy; Fonation
