Phonatory Movement of the Pharyngoesophageal Mucosa in Laryngectomy Patients

NCT05561920 | Completed Results

• 1 other identifier: OsijekUH-HS camera
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 55
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The treatment of advanced laryngeal cancer involves the removal of the entire larynx. After removal of the larynx, the pharyngoesophageal segment (PES) is created by reconstructing the soft tissue of the pharynx and oesophagus, and its vibration creates a substitute voice. High-speed video endoscopy (HSV) is the only method that visualises and measures the vibration of the PES after a laryngectomy. The acoustic characteristics of three forms of rehabilitated voice of laryngectomised individuals (oesophageal voice, tracheoesophageal (TE) voice using a voice prosthesis and electrolarynx) have been satisfactorily described, but the interdependence of acoustic and visual representations of the phonatory movement of the PES is still insufficiently studied. In recent years, biomechanical models have been developed to analyse the vibration of the PES, but consistent results have not yet been obtained that would explain whether the parameters from the analysis of the waveform of the PES can be compared with the parameters obtained from the acoustic analysis of the voice of a laryngectomised patient.Effective rehabilitation focuses on optimising speech and swallowing, which leads to a good integration of the laryngectomised person into society. One step towards achieving this goal is a thorough assessment of their voice and communication experiences, as well as analysing the phonatory movements of the PES using HSV technology.

Conditions

Larynx Cancer; Laryngectomy; Status

Keywords

Laryngectomy; Endoscopy; Speech,acoustics; High speed imaging; Speech,alaryngeal; Pharyngoesophageal segment; Biomechanics model

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (10)

• High Speed Video Endoscopy Recordings

  Visual recording of the mucosa of the pharyngoesophageal segment (PES) performed with High speed video endoscopy (HSV) during the phonation of the vowel "a".The video recordings of the PES were made with a 90° rigid HSV system Wolf 5562 Hres ENDOCAM (frame rate: 4000 fps, resolution: 256×256 pixels). All subjects phonated the vowel "a" at a comfortable pitch and volume. Visual assessment of the HSV recordings was performed using the protocol including the assessments of the overall quality of the recordings (assessability, brightness and focus) and the assessments of anatomical and morphological features of the PES: amount of saliva, visibility and shape of the PES, location of visible vibration, presence of a mucosal wave and regularity of the vibration.

  15 minutes for each participants

• The Measures of Central Tendency and Dispersion in Acoustic Signal - Fundamental Frequency

  The acoustic analysis of the tracheoesophageal (TE) voice with a voice prosthesis was performed in a quiet room (ambient noise \< 50 dB) with a microphone placed 30 cm from the mouth to create optimal conditions for recording and analysis. Three consecutive measurements were taken. The voice recordings were analysed using the acoustic programme lingWAVES (Voice and speech analyser version 2.x software). The fundamental frequency (Hz) parameter was recorded from the central part of the best recording

  15 minutes

• The Measures of Central Tendency and Dispersion in Acoustic Signal - Intensity of Substitute Voice

  The acoustic analysis of the tracheoesophageal (TE) voice with a voice prosthesis was performed in a quiet room (ambient noise \< 50 dB) with a microphone placed 30 cm from the mouth to create optimal conditions for recording and analysis. Three consecutive measurements were taken. The voice recordings were analysed using the acoustic programme lingWAVES (Voice and speech analyser version 2.x software). Intensity of substitute voice was recorded from the central part of the best recording

  15 minutes

• The Measures of Central Tendency and Dispersion in Acoustic Signal - Relative Jitter and Shimmer

  The acoustic analysis of the tracheoesophageal (TE) voice with a voice prosthesis was performed in a quiet room (ambient noise \< 50 dB) with a microphone placed 30 cm from the mouth to create optimal conditions for recording and analysis. Three consecutive measurements were taken. The voice recordings were analysed using the acoustic programme lingWAVES (Voice and speech analyser version 2.x software). The following parameters were recorded from the central part of the best recording: jitter (%), shimmer (%)

  15 minutes

• The Measures of Central Tendency and Dispersion of Maximum Phonation Time (MPT)

  Measurement of the longest possible relaxed phonation of the voice "a" by a speech therapist The maximum phonation time (measured in seconds) for which a person can sustain a vowel sound when produced on 1 deep breath at a comfortable pitch and loudness and is a common clinical measure of glottal efficiency.

  2 minutes

• Croatian Version of the SECEL (SECEL:HR) Questionnaire.

  Completing the Croatian version of the Self-Evaluation of Communication Experiences after Laryngectomy (SECEL) questionnaire. Questionnaire consists of two parts. The first part examines the relevant general data on the person filling out the questionnaire, while the second part consists of 35 items questionably or statement-designed to examine communication experiences. Patients estimates the incidence of these communication difficulties on the Likert scale (0-never, 1-sometimes, 2-often, 3-always). The 35 items are divided into 3 subscales: General (0-15 points), Environment (0-42 points) and Attitude (0-45 points). Item number 35 is a separate question: "Do you talk the same amount now as you did before your laryngectomy?" and is scored with the rating categories "yes"," "more" and "less". The total numerical score ranges from 0 to 102, with a higher score indicating greater difficulty and poorer postoperative adaptation of speech communication.

  15 minutes

• The Results of Pharyngoesophageal Segment (PES) Vibration Analysed With the Biomechanical Model Obtained by High - Speed Video Endoscopy - Central Tendency and Dispersion - Open and Closed Phase Duration (%), Relative Shimmer and Relative Jitter

  The development of the biomechanical model of the PES aims to quantify non-stationary pharyngoesophageal vibrations and draw conclusions about the temporal characteristics of tissue stiffness, oscillating mass, pressure, and geometric distributions within the PES. The biomechanical model identifies mathematical dependencies and analyses extracted time signals of the PES opening and contours (i.e. the opening and closing of the vibrating mucosa of the PES). The PES waveform allows calculation of relative shimmer (%), relative jitter (%), and the duration of the open and closed phases (%), or the percentage of open or closed time of the PES, which is calculated from the PES waveform using the formulas listed in reference 5.

  3 months

• The Results of Pharyngoesophageal Segment (PES) Vibration Analysed With the Biomechanical Model Obtained by High - Speed Video Endoscopy - Central Tendency and Dispersion - Mean Shimmer

  The development of the biomechanical model of the PES in order to quantify non-stationary pharyngoesophageal vibrations and drawing conclusions on the temporal characteristics of tissue stiffness, oscillating mass, pressure, and geometric distributions within the PES. The biomechanical model identify mathematical dependencies and analyse extracted time signals of the PES opening and contours (i.e. the opening and closing of the vibrating mucosa of the PES). The PES waveform allowed us to calculate mean shimmer (dB).

  3 months

• The Results of Pharyngoesophageal Segment (PES) Vibration Analysed With the Biomechanical Model Obtained by High - Speed Video Endoscopy - Central Tendency and Dispersion of Mean Jitter

  The development of the biomechanical model of the PES in order to quantify non-stationary pharyngoesophageal vibrations and drawing conclusions on the temporal characteristics of tissue stiffness, oscillating mass, pressure, and geometric distributions within the PES. The biomechanical model identify mathematical dependencies and analyse extracted time signals of the PES opening and contours (i.e. the opening and closing of the vibrating mucosa of the PES). The PES waveform allowed us to calculate mean jitter (s).

  3 months

• The Results of Pharyngoesophageal Segment (PES) Vibration Analysed With the Biomechanical Model Obtained by High - Speed Video Endoscopy - Central Tendency and Dispersion - Fundamental Frequency

  The development of the biomechanical model of the PES in order to quantify non-stationary pharyngoesophageal vibrations and drawing conclusions on the temporal characteristics of tissue stiffness, oscillating mass, pressure, and geometric distributions within the PES. The biomechanical model identify mathematical dependencies and analyse extracted time signals of the PES opening and contours (i.e. the opening and closing of the vibrating mucosa of the PES). The PES waveform allowed us to calculate the fundamental frequency (Hz).

  3 months

Study Arms (1)

Adult laryngectomised patients

Patients who have undergone total laryngectomy and completed minimal their 6-month period without disease after surgery and post-operative treatments such as radiotherapy or chemotherapy

Device: High-speed video endoscopy (HSV); Device: Acoustic voice analysis; Behavioral: Quality of life questionnaire

Interventions

Acoustic voice analysis DEVICE

acoustic program (lingWAVES - Voice and speech analyser) - measuring the values of acoustic parameters in voice recordings

Adult laryngectomised patients

Quality of life questionnaire BEHAVIORAL

Filling out questionnaires

Adult laryngectomised patients

High-speed video endoscopy (HSV) DEVICE

Describe anatomical and morphological characteristics o phonatory movement of pharyngoesophageal segment (PES) in laryngectomy patients

Adult laryngectomised patients

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 90 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Probability Sample

Study Population

adult male laryngectomised patients who completed oncological treatment and underwent voice rehabilitation

You may qualify if:

• laryngectomised patients who completed minimal their 6-month period without disease after surgery and post-operative treatments such as radiotherapy or chemotherapy
• patients with preserved reading skills
• regular presence at follow-up visits

You may not qualify if:

• age less than 18 years
• acute respiratory infection of the upper or lower respiratory tract
• other primary cancer in the upper aerodigestive tract or lung
• presence of neurologic or pulmonary diseases

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Osijek University Hospital: lead
• Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

University Hospital Osijek

Osijek, 31000, Croatia

Location

Related Publications (8)

• Zenga J, Goldsmith T, Bunting G, Deschler DG. State of the art: Rehabilitation of speech and swallowing after total laryngectomy. Oral Oncol. 2018 Nov;86:38-47. doi: 10.1016/j.oraloncology.2018.08.023. Epub 2018 Sep 12.

  PMID: 30409318 BACKGROUND

• van As CJ, Tigges M, Wittenberg T, Op de Coul BM, Eysholdt U, Hilgers FJ. High-speed digital imaging of neoglottic vibration after total laryngectomy. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1999 Aug;125(8):891-7. doi: 10.1001/archotol.125.8.891.

  PMID: 10448737 BACKGROUND

• Schwarz R, Huttner B, Dollinger M, Luegmair G, Eysholdt U, Schuster M, Lohscheller J, Gurlek E. Substitute voice production: quantification of PE segment vibrations using a biomechanical model. IEEE Trans Biomed Eng. 2011 Oct;58(10):2767-76. doi: 10.1109/TBME.2011.2151860. Epub 2011 May 10.

  PMID: 21558056 BACKGROUND

• Huttner B, Luegmair G, Patel RR, Ziethe A, Eysholdt U, Bohr C, Sebova I, Semmler M, Dollinger M. Development of a time-dependent numerical model for the assessment of non-stationary pharyngoesophageal tissue vibrations after total laryngectomy. Biomech Model Mechanobiol. 2015 Jan;14(1):169-84. doi: 10.1007/s10237-014-0597-1. Epub 2014 May 27.

  PMID: 24861998 BACKGROUND

• Schlegel P, Stingl M, Kunduk M, Kniesburges S, Bohr C, Dollinger M. Dependencies and Ill-designed Parameters Within High-speed Videoendoscopy and Acoustic Signal Analysis. J Voice. 2019 Sep;33(5):811.e1-811.e12. doi: 10.1016/j.jvoice.2018.04.011. Epub 2018 May 31.

  PMID: 29861291 BACKGROUND

• Schindler A, Mozzanica F, Brignoli F, Maruzzi P, Evitts P, Ottaviani F. Reliability and validity of the Italian self-evaluation of communication experiences after laryngeal cancer questionnaire. Head Neck. 2013 Nov;35(11):1606-15. doi: 10.1002/hed.23198. Epub 2012 Nov 20.

  PMID: 23169480 BACKGROUND

• Debruyne F, Delaere P, Wouters J, Uwents P. Acoustic analysis of tracheo-oesophageal versus oesophageal speech. J Laryngol Otol. 1994 Apr;108(4):325-8. doi: 10.1017/s0022215100126660.

  PMID: 8182320 BACKGROUND

• Dooks P, McQuestion M, Goldstein D, Molassiotis A. Experiences of patients with laryngectomies as they reintegrate into their community. Support Care Cancer. 2012 Mar;20(3):489-98. doi: 10.1007/s00520-011-1101-4. Epub 2011 Feb 6.

  PMID: 21298450 BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Laryngeal Neoplasms; Speech

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Otorhinolaryngologic Neoplasms; Head and Neck Neoplasms; Neoplasms by Site; Neoplasms; Laryngeal Diseases; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Respiratory Tract Neoplasms; Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases; Verbal Behavior; Communication; Behavior

Results Point of Contact

• Title: Željka Laksar Klarić
• Organization: University hospital Osijek

zeljka.l.klaric@gmail.com

+38531512402

Study Officials

• Ana Đanić Hadžibegović, Assoc. Prof

  Clinical Hospital Centre Zagreb

  STUDY CHAIR

• Andrijana Včeva, Full Prof

  University Hospital Osijek

  STUDY CHAIR

Publication Agreements

• PI is Sponsor Employee: Yes

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: COHORT
• Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: September 15, 2022
• First Posted: September 30, 2022
• Study Start: August 1, 2022
• Primary Completion: April 1, 2025
• Study Completion: April 1, 2025
• Last Updated: March 31, 2026
• Results First Posted: March 11, 2026

Record last verified: 2025-06

Locations

CR (1)