title: Chronic adherence to heat and moisture exchanger use in laryngectomized patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Total laryngectomy leads to pulmonary problems such as excessive sputum production, forced expectoration and increased coughing. The use of a heat and moisture exchanger (Provox(®) HME) reduces these symptoms. The aim of this study was to quantify chronic adherence to HME use in laryngectomized patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective study of 115 patients laryngectomized at our centre during 2005-2011 was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 115 patients, 90 (78.2%) used the HME consistently and 25 (21.8%) abandoned its use. The most common causes of desertion were adhesion problems due to mucus and skin irritation. Of the 30 patients with voice prostheses, 90% of them used the HME system regularly. Voice prosthesis use (P=.05) and early indication in postoperative laryngectomy (P=.001) were factors significantly associated with chronic HME use.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is high adherence (78.2%) to heat and moisture exchanger (Provox(®) HME) use in laryngectomized patients. Chronic HME use was higher in patients with voice prosthesis and the ones with early indication in postoperative period. The major causes of abandonment were related to problems with the adhesive.
authors: Servicio de Otorrinolaringología, Hospital de Sant Pau, Barcelona, España. gabrielpedemonte@gmail.com
authors: Gabriel
authors: G
authors: Pedemonte-Sarrias
authors: Juan Carlos
authors: JC
authors: Villatoro-Sologaistoa
authors: Paulina
authors: P
authors: Ale-Inostroza
authors: Montserrat
authors: M
authors: López-Vilas
authors: Xavier
authors: X
authors: León-Vintró
authors: Miquel
authors: M
authors: Quer-Agustí
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D006813:Humidity; D007825:Laryngectomy; D007831:Larynx, Artificial; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011446:Prospective Studies
keywords: Adherencia crónica; Chronic use; Heat and moisture exchanger; Humidificador de traqueostoma; Laringectomía total; Provox(®) HME; Prótesis fonatoria; Total laryngectomy; Voice prosthesis