title: The effect of a Heat and Moisture Exchanger (Provox HME) on pulmonary protection after total laryngectomy: a randomized controlled study.
abstract: The goal of this randomized controlled study was to investigate the effect of Heat and Moisture Exchanger use on pulmonary symptoms and quality of life aspects in laryngectomized patients. Eighty laryngectomized patients were included and randomized into an HME and Control group. The effect of the HME was evaluated by means of Tally Sheets and Structured Questionnaires. The results showed a significant decrease in the frequency of coughing, forced expectoration, and stoma cleaning in the HME group. There were trends for the prosthetic speakers to report more fluent speech with the HME and for the HME group to report fewer sleeping problems. In conclusion, this study, performed in Poland, confirms the results of previous studies performed in other countries, showing that pulmonary symptoms decrease significantly with HME use and that related aspects such as speech and sleeping tend to improve, regardless of country or climate.
authors: Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Regional Cancer Center, ul. Artwińskiego 3, 25-734 Kielce, Poland. stanislaw.bien@onkol.kielce.pl
authors: Stanisław
authors: S
authors: Bień
authors: Sławomir
authors: S
authors: Okła
authors: Corina J
authors: CJ
authors: van As-Brooks
authors: Annemieke H
authors: AH
authors: Ackerstaff
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001831:Body Temperature; D003371:Cough / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006813:Humidity; D007825:Laryngectomy / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D007831:Larynx, Artificial; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011044:Poland; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D014139:Tracheostomy / Q000534:rehabilitation