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Monday, June 11, 2012

Ventilation of Neck Breathers Undergoing a Diagnostic Procedure or Surgery


Receiving sedation while undergoing a diagnostic procedure (i.e. colonoscopy) or general anesthesia while undergoing surgery is challenging for neck breathers including laryngectomees.

Unfortunately, most medical personnel including nurses, medical technicians, surgeons and anesthesiologists caring for a laryngectomees before, during, and after surgery are not familiar with their unique anatomy, how they speak, and how to manage their airways. This lack of familiarity is because of the significant success of laryngeal conservation treatment  that has in turn reduced the number of patients undergoing total laryngectomy. As a result many health providers have less contact than ever with laryngectomees. A manuscript explaining the special needs of laryngectomees and other neck breathers is available on this link. 


 Tracheotomy tube

6 comments:

  1. This could'nt be more truer ! I have had bad experiences with nurses and anesthesiologists because they truely DONT KNOW about Larys. Thank you for posting this . It makes me want to pass this out at the ER and nurses stations ! Roxanne Jacobs

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  2. Well done site!!

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  3. Sir this couldn't have come in my email box at a better time. thanks so much. my husband is having a terrible time. he has a fitsula and it isn't healing and they have done 5 surgeries on it. He gets short of breath. He is starting to fall. I am getting weak and tired myself. We spend 2-3 times a week in the ER. Any help will be greatly appreciated!!!!!!
    Susan and Mark Britton
    306 E. 16th
    Wolfforth, TX 79382
    806-392-6767
    suzielynn1030@aol.com
    THANK YOU!!!

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    1. my mom is a lary and i am her caregiver. it is very hard ecspecially working full time as well as being a nursing student. i hope to change the knowledge known of larygectomees when i begin nursing as i have alot. my moms been a lary for two years and it goes up and down. she had fistulas, multiple surgeries, and its still ongoing. we live day to day and hope for the best. my advice to you is stay strong and keep your head up. please remember...you're strength is also his strength. i know its hard but we gotta push through. my prayers go out for you and your husband.
      best wishes
      amanda

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  4. This is true. The first general Anethesia after my Laryngectomy went fine. But the second operation required dilation of my esophagus. Yes, I had the maximum radiation before my Laryngectomy. The second time I needed general Anethesia, I told the anethesologist to check my throat as I could not swallow anything after my anethesia. He was not experienced in dilation and only dilated it as far as he felt comfortable with. My ENT Doctor has to go back and futher dilate me this month. At least, I had a reprieve between operations.

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