title: Pulmonary rehabilitation after total laryngectomy: a randomized cross-over clinical trial comparing two different heat and moisture exchangers (HMEs).
abstract: Post-laryngectomy heat and moisture exchanger (HME) use is known to have a beneficial effect on tracheal climate, pulmonary symptoms and related aspects. This study aims to investigate differences in clinical effects between the first and second generation Provox HMEs. The second generation (Provox XtraHME) has better humidification properties than the first generation (Provox HME), and has been shown to further improve tracheal climate. Forty-five laryngectomized patients, who were already using an HME, participated in a prospective, randomized cross-over clinical study in which each HME was used for 6 weeks. Results showed that for most parameters studied, the second generation HME performed equally well or better than the first generation HME. The improvement in tracheal climate translated into patients reporting significantly less tracheal dryness with the second generation than with the first generation (p = 0.039). Using an HME with better humidification properties is related to a reduction in tracheal dryness in our study population.
authors.affiliation: Complexo Hospitalario Universitario A Coruña, Lugar Xubias De Arriba 84, 15006 La Coruña, Spain. jesus.herranz.gonzalez.botas@sergas.es
authors.forename: Jesús
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Herranz
authors.forename: María Alvarez
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Espiño
authors.forename: Carolina Ogen
authors.initials: CO
authors.lastname: Morado
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003371:Cough / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006813:Humidity; D007825:Laryngectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D012138:Respiratory Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014132:Trachea / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014832:Voice Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*