Second breath: the use of heat and moisture exchangers for pulmonary rehabilitation of tracheostomized patients
Head and neck cancer plays one of the leading roles in the structure of oncologic morbidity. Laryngeal cancer takes one of the first places in this group. Though the overall survival rate has a rapid tendency to increase in such patients, total laryngectomy leads to significant consequences for the patient, which brings to the forefront new problems: improving the quality of life and minimizing side effects of surgical treatment. Modern oncology provides an opportunity of respiratory rehabilitation to patients after total laryngectomy, using specialized devices for heat and moisture exchange (HME). These devices help to prevent dryness of the lower respiratory tract, increased coughing attacks, copious discharge of mucus and sputum, as well as minimize the patients' complaints of chronic fatigue, insomnia, providing their psychological and social adaptation.