Multicenter study assessing effects of heat and moisture exchanger use on respiratory symptoms and voice quality in laryngectomized individuals.
OBJECTIVE
A multicenter study based in the United States assessed the heat-moisture exchanger effect on respiratory symptoms and "voice quality" of laryngectomees. PATIENTS AND MEASURES: The study group consisted of 81 consecutive laryngectomees (62 men and 19 women; mean age, 66 years; age range, 45 to 89 years), with a median follow-up of 3.5 years (range, 0.5 to 24 years). A structured questionnaire was used to assess 3-month results, and tally sheets recorded the frequency of cough-expectoration during first and last trial weeks.


RESULTS
Compliance was 73% (n = 59); decrease in coughing, 68%; sputum production, 73%; forced expectoration, 60%; and need for stoma cleaning, 52% of these 59 patients. Regarding daily cough-expectoration frequency, a statistically significant decrease (P < 0.0001) was found between the first and last trial weeks. Regarding influence on voice quality, 46% of regular users reported improvement in intelligibility, 30% in loudness, 37% in fluency, and 40% in telephone intelligibility. Fourteen patients (19%) reported skin irritation, with discontinuation of 7 patients.


CONCLUSIONS
The observed decrease in pulmonary symptoms and improvement in voice quality confirm earlier reports from the Netherlands, United Kingdom, and Spain indicating improvement in postlaryngectomy quality of life.
Ackerstaff
Annemieke H
AH
The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. a.ackerstaff@nki.nl
Fuller
D
D
Irvin
M
M
Maccracken
E
E
Gaziano
J
J
Stachowiak
L
L
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006875:Hydrotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006979:Hyperthermia, Induced / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D007825:Laryngectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D012120:Respiration Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D012138:Respiratory Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D014833:Voice Quality