Mediastinal abscess formation after tracheoesophageal voice prosthesis placement: a case report

Abstract

The loss of vocal function is observed after total laryngectomy. Tracheoesophageal voice prosthesis placement is used among voice rehabilitation techniques, that is introduced by Singer and Blom since 1980. Tracheoesophageal puncture is performed during this procedure. Some complications such as hemorrhage, esophageal perforation, cervical vertebral fracture and mediastinitis can be observed after puncture formation. We report mediastinal abscess formation after tracheoesophageal puncture in a patient with diabetes mellitus treated with radiotherapy after total laryngectomy. Early diagnosis and treatment is important in mediastinal abscess, which has 10-35% high morbidity and mortality rate. Surgical drainage takes place in treatment of mediastinal abscess. However, we report management of mediastinal abscess with medical treatment of our case with his clinical presentation.

Keywords

• tracheoesophageal voice prosthesis
• complication
• mediastinal abscess