title: Rehabilitation after laryngectomy: a practical approach and guidelines for patients.
abstract: 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.
authors: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Hospital of Patras, Rion, Greece. karam@otenet.gr
authors: Theodoros
authors: T
authors: Papadas
authors: Nikolaos
authors: N
authors: Charokopos
authors: Michalis V
authors: MV
authors: Karamouzis
authors: Christos
authors: C
authors: Pierakeas
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: Symeonidi
authors: Georgios
authors: G
authors: Economou
authors: Panagiotis
authors: P
authors: Goumas
mesh_terms: 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