[Rehabilitation following laryngectomy from the viewpoint of the affected patients].

This study is based on a questionaire sent to members of the German laryngectomee association. The analyses of the answers provide important positive and negative information concerning the rehabilitation: Generally the patient was reintegrated into the family without incident. 59.2% learned oesophageal voice, but 28% acquired no effective substitute voice. 39% of patients and 51% of their relatives did not become acquainted with first-aid for neck-breathers (mouth to neck resuscitation). 19.5% resumed their former work. During the preoperative course, 36% of the patients waited 3 to 6 months from the beginning of their complaints to the first medical consultation. In 51% of the cases the interval from first complaints to the surgical treatment was more than three months. These results demonstrate shortcomings in rehabilitation which require attention.