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. CONCLUSION: 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.
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. CONCLUSION: 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.
Authors: Valesca P Retèl; Cindy van den Boer; Lotte M G Steuten; Sławomir Okła; Frans J Hilgers; Michiel W van den Brekel Journal: Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol Date: 2015-04-02 Impact factor: 2.503
Authors: Olivier Dassonville; Jean Claude Mérol; Alexandre Bozec; François Swierkosz; José Santini; André Chaïs; Pierre Yves Marcy; Paul Giacchero; Emmanuel Chamorey; Gilles Poissonnet Journal: Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol Date: 2011-02-22 Impact factor: 2.503
Authors: C van den Boer; S H Muller; V van der Noort; R A Valdés Olmos; A Minni; C Parrilla; F J M Hilgers; M W M van den Brekel; S van der Baan Journal: Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol Date: 2014-10-22 Impact factor: 2.503
Authors: J K Zuur; S H Muller; F H C de Jongh; M J van der Horst; M Shehata; J van Leeuwen; M Sinaasappel; F J M Hilgers Journal: Med Biol Eng Comput Date: 2007-07-13 Impact factor: 2.602