Care of the Post | 合法醫療器材資訊網

Thesepatientsarecasuallyreferredtoas“neckbreathers”(2).Incontrast,atracheostomy,alsoreferredtoasatracheotomy,issurgicalopeningintothetracheato ...

Background    Many patients with laryngeal cancer require a laryngectomy. While laryngectomies are typically done as a curative cancer surgery, some patients will have recurrences and be seen in palliative care and hospice settings. Laryngectomy stomas differ from tracheostomies (see Fast Fact #250) in important ways, which can profoundly impact a patient’s well being. A working knowledge of the basic management and equipment used in patients with a stoma after laryngectomy can avoid complications and improve a patient’s comfort and safety (1).

Laryngectomy Stoma versus Tracheostomy There are a few key differences between a post-laryngectomy stoma and tracheostomy. At the most basic level, a post-laryngectomy stoma is created after a patient undergoes a total laryngectomy, which involves the removal of the larynx, including vocal cords and associated structures. A permanent, dire...