Is electroglottography-based videostroboscopic assessment of post-laryngectomy prosthetic speech useful?

Objectives: To use an electroglottography (EGG)-based videostroboscopy tool to assess the anatomical and morphologic characteristics of the pharyngoesophageal (PE) segment in tracheoesophageal (TO) speakers.
Study design: Cross-sectional cohort study. Subjects: Fifty-two post-laryngectomy patients with no recurrence and using prosthetic (Blom-Singer) speech.
Intervention: An electroglottography (EGG)-based videostroboscopy tool EGG-based rigid videostroboscopy as well as perceptual evaluation.
Outcome measures: Stroboscopic protocol included nine subjective/visual parameters to evaluate the neoglottis and study correlation of the G (GRBAS scale) and the overall voice quality (OVQ) with the treatment variables.
Results: Of the 52 laryngectomees, videostroboscopic recordings were possible in 46 patients (36 males and 10 females) with a mean age of 63.4 ±10.5 (SD) an electroglottography (EGG)-based videostroboscopy tool years. All used the Blom-Singer valve and the median time since Total Laryngectomy was 2 years. The neoglottis was assessable in 26 patients. We were able to strobe only 9 patients. There was excellent correlation between G and OVQ (Spearman rho > 0.9). Statistically significant correlation was found between G1 and saliva (P = 0.03) and between good OVQ and saliva (P = 0.02); similarly, there was significant correlation between G1 and LVV (P = 0.05) and between good OVQ and LVV (P = 0.03).
Conclusions: This study is the first to examine the use of an EGG-based stroboscopy instrument to evaluate TO speech. Our observations suggest that from the standpoint of functional voice, saliva and the LVV had statistically significant effect in determining voice quality.

Keywords
Electroglottography, perceptual evaluation, pharyngoesophageal segment, videostroboscopy