Kishore A, Roy D
Senior Registrar, Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Stobhill Hospital, Glasgow, UK.
Indian J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2001 Oct;53(4):315-7. doi: 10.1007/BF02991560.
As a consequences of laryngectomy, patients possess a tracheostoma presenting on the neck skin which is an intrinsic component of their airway and which provides a portal through which potentially dangerous foreign bodies can enter the tracheobronchial tree. In addition, new methods of speech rehabilitation require the placement of a valve within the stoma which needs regular cleaning and manipulation. We report 3 cases of aspiration, each of a different piece of equipment that is commonly associated with laryngectomees, illustrating potential unique risks to the airway in such individuals.