Preliminary report of laryngeal phonation during mechanical ventilation via a new cuffed tracheostomy tube

OBJECTIVE: To study the safety, efficacy, patient tolerance, and patient satisfaction of the Blom Tracheostomy Tube and Speech Cannula (Pulmodyne, Indianapolis, Indiana), a new device that allows the patient to speak while the tracheostomy tube cuff is fully inflated. METHODS: With 10 tracheostomized mechanically ventilated patients we recorded ventilator settings and physiologic variables at baseline with patient's usual tracheostomy tube, then with the Blom Tracheostomy Tube and the Blom standard (non-speech) cannula, and then during three 30-min trials of the Blom Speech Cannula. During the Blom Speech Cannula trials we assessed the subjects' success in phonation (eg, sentence length and volume). RESULTS: Nine of the 10 subjects achieved sustained audible phonation and were very satisfied with the device. CONCLUSIONS: The Blom Speech Cannula appears to be safe, effective, and well tolerated in tracheostomized mechanically ventilated patients while maintaining full cuff inflation.