LAUSR

PURPOSE This study aims to measure the pressure of the pharynx and the pharyngoesophageal segment (PES) at rest and during phonation in total laryngectomized patients, with different levels of voice production. METHODS four total laryngectomized individuals participated in the study, All patients underwent High Resolution Manometry (MAR) at rest and during phonation. After this process, a descriptive analysis of the results was performed. RESULTS we observed that during rest the patients had PES pressure below normal and this data may be related to changes in the muscular connections at the level of the upper esophageal sphincter (UES) especially the interruption of the cricopharyngeal plexus. During phonation, two patients presented higher UES pressure values during phonation, when compared to the values found at rest, suggesting that introduction of air into the esophagus is followed by pharyngoesophageal contraction and that during phonation the patients with good esophageal speech may develop more pressure in this region. CONCLUSION Studies with a greater number of participants may help define, for example, subjects who may benefit from procedures such as cricopharyngeal myotomy or other medical conduct in order to facilitate the acquisition of esophageal voice in these patients.