Before letting you go home, the team of the department in which you were operated verified that you had acquired the skills required to manage your tracheostoma as well as possible.

You know how to suction the secretions, clean the orifice, and change the cannula. The main role of the cannula is keeping the tracheostoma open. When your surgeon thinks that the risk of narrowing of the tracheostoma is no longer present, he/she will tell you that it is no longer necessary to have the cannula.

You will then be able to use adhesives that are stuck around the tracheostoma and allow attaching different elements.

For greater comfort, the manufacturers have developed tools that could be attached on the cannula or on the adhesive.

The most important is the Heat and moisture exchanger (HME). In fact, your lungs were used to receiving filtered, warmed and humidified air through your nose. The cold and dry air outside increases pulmonary secretions. The principal role of the HME is to filter, warm and humidify the air you breath in through the tracheostoma, this is why it is sometimes called an artificial nose.

There are several models, and two main manufacturers: Atos and Ceredas.

There is also a module that allows protecting your lungs during a shower.

Finally, once you have mastered the tracheo-oesophageal voice, you will be able to choose a hands-free module, that allows the air to pass automatically to the oesophagus during expiration, without you having to press on the tracheostoma.