A laryngectomy leads to a loss of mouth/nose breathing. This means that the filtering warming and humidification of the air has to happen in a different way. To prevent irritation of the airways, due to dry air, dust or harmful substances contained in the air, a filter is required. So Heat/Moisture Exchanger (HME) helps to keep your lungs healthy by humidifying and filtering the air that you breathe.
Air-HME more useful during day while physical activity is more, since it has the lowest breathing resistance.
Moist-HME more useful during night for getting the best possible humidification and breathe comfortably.
Design Benefits
Low breathing resistance
Reduces coughing and mucus production
Easy occlusion of the stoma for voicing
Can be used day and night
Comfortable breathing
Facilitates speaking for laryngectomized patients with a voice prosthesis
Prevents secretions from reaching the patients fingers or clothing
Quickly removed at any time
