It is important to be familiar with the equipment the patient will need in order to be able to present it and give suitable advice. You will also be able to address these questions better.

Concerning the tracheal protections, it is important to remind them of their interest so that the patient can understand better the importance of wearing them.

Since the nose and the mouth no longer play their air humidification, warming and filter roles, the doctor often proposes respiratory filters (tracheal protections). They form a barrier against dust or micro-organisms and also can hide the tracheostoma.

There are different types:

– The respiratory filter or tracheal protection: it looks like a scarf and allows to hide the tracheostoma.

The artificial nose (or Heat and Moisture Exchanger, HME): it is placed around the tracheostoma some time after the radiation therapy and allows the insertion of a cannula. It is removable.

You can contact the suppliers and/or laryngectomee associations that can show you the equipment.