Esperienza con l'uso di un sistema scambiatore di calore ed 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) on the respiratory system in patients after total laryngectomy. In the present study we analyze the opinion of 40 total laryngec- tomized patients regarding the use of the HME Stomafilter kit. Focus has been directed to speech function parameters and pulmonary symptoms. Benefits in phonatory parameters - intel- ligibility, 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 problems and increasing the quality of the voice rehabilitation with vocal prosthesis.