Speech After Laryngo-Esophagectomy with Colon Transplant

Laryngo-esophagectomy was performed with a colon transplant to replace the excised esophagus. The patient did not develop functional “colonic” speech but does function adequately using an artificial larynx. Cineradiologic evidence reveals that the transplanted segment of colon permits development of a pseudoglottis to produce sound. He was capable of injecting air and forming the pseudoglottis, but he interfered with the production of colonic voice by retropositioning his tongue to close the hypopharynx.