Rehabilitation after laryngectomy: a practical approach and guidelines for patients.
BACKGROUND
Laryngectomy causes irreversible loss or distortion in basic human habits, such as speech, swallowing, smelling, tasting, coughing and kissing. Rehabilitation can help a patient to reach the maximal potential within the context of his or her social milieu. Learning and adapting the lifestyle of living after laryngectomy is a challenge that faces the patient and the doctor.


METHODS
The authors' Head and Neck Cancer Center treated more than 100 laryngeal carcinomas with laryngectomy during a five-year period. A multidisciplinary group was established for the education and rehabilitation of laryngectomized patients in order to provide them with the best possible overall quality of life. The group's rehabilitation program is described.
Papadas
Theodoros
T
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Hospital of Patras, Rion, Greece. karam@otenet.gr
Charokopos
Nikolaos
N
Karamouzis
Michalis V
MV
Pierakeas
Christos
C
Symeonidi
Maria
M
Economou
Georgios
G
Goumas
Panagiotis
P
D006699:Home Care Services; D006701:Home Nursing; D006801:Humans; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D007825:Laryngectomy / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012944:Social Support