Experience with the heat and moisture exchange system in laryngectonized patients [Esperienza con l'uso di un sistema scambiatore di calore e umidità in pazienti laringectomizzati]

Respiratory symptoms after total laryngectomy are both frequent and troublesome. Previous studies have demonstrated the positive effect of a heat and moisture exchanger (HME) onthe respiratory system in patients after total laryngectomy. In the present study we analyze the opinion of 40 total laryngectomized patients regarding the use of the HME Stomafilter kit.Focus has been directed to speech function parameters andpulmonary symptoms. Benefits in phonatory parameters - intelligibility,fluency, pressure and telephone intelligibility, have been over 80%. Reduction in pulmonary symptoms - coughing, sputum production, forced expectoration, stoma cleaning - have also been significant. Our results support the use of HME Stomafilter for minimizing and preventing respiratory problemsand increasing the quality of the voice rehabilitation with vocal prosthesis.