Tracheostoma humidifier: influence on secretion and voice of patients with total laryngectomy.

Background: total laryngectomy has several consequences such as loss of the laryngeal voice and alterations in the respiratory system.

Aim: to evaluate the influence of a tracheostoma humidifier (heat moisture exchanger - HME) on the control of lung secretion and esophageal and tracheoesophageal vocal quality in patients with total laryngectomy.

Method: nine male individuals, aged between 46 to 67 years, submitted to total laryngectomy.