Vocal rehabilitation of the laryngectomee can be dramatically improved by the Tracheo-Esophageal Puncture (TEP) technique. The greatest impediment to its increased use in our country has been the failure on the part of the Medical Community to provide these patients with day to day support and guidance on the use of the TEP prosthesis. This article seeks to address this deficiency and provides some guidance on the care and maintenance of the TEP.
Keywords: Carcinoma larynx; Tracheo-esophageal prosthesis; total laryngectomy.