MICROBIAL COLONIZATION OF THE GRONINGEN SPEAKING VALVE AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO VALVE FAILURE

Speaking valve failure may be related to biofilm development. An inter -observer validated method of assessing microbial overgrowth in defect ive prostheses was developed. Two independent observers recorded colon isation of the valves on a 100 mm linear analogue scale in several def ined areas. Interobserver agreement was high in all areas. In vitro op ening pressure and derived forward resistances were measured. The rela tionship between colonization of the valves and the in vitro measureme nts was investigated. Significant correlations for a two-tailed Spearm an's test were recorded between the resistance and microbial colonizat ion of the hinge and oesophageal areas (r(s), 0.22: P < 0.05, r(s) 0.2 5: P < 0.05, n = 80). There was no significant association for resista nce and colonization of the tracheal surface, and no significant assoc iation between the opening pressure and the colonization. This work su ggests that microbial colonization of the prosthesis in the oesophagea l and hinge areas is associated with valve failure.