Breathing - before and after

KEY points

• An important function of the nose is to make the air you breathe warm and moist
• This function is lost when you breathe through your stoma making the air you breathe cold and dry which can lead to increased mucus and chest infections
• Heat and Moisture Exchangers (HMEs) make the air warm and moist again and should be worn at all times

Introduction

Your breathing works differently after surgery. Before, you used to breathe through your nose and mouth. Now you breathe through a stoma in your neck. Read on and learn more about the differences in your breathing before and after surgery.

The function of your lungs

Your lungs are important. They help you breathe and provide oxygen to your body.

Before surgery, you would breathe through your nose, mouth and throat – or what is known as the ‘upper airways.’ These upper airways (in particular the nose) make the air that you breathe warm and moist, allowing your lungs to function properly.

The function of your lungs

Your lungs are important. They help you breathe and provide oxygen to your body.

Before surgery, you would breathe through your nose, mouth and throat – or what is known as the ‘upper airways.’ These upper airways (in particular the nose) make the air that you breathe warm and moist, allowing your lungs to function properly.

After surgery

After your laryngectomy, you breathe through a stoma in your neck. This means the air you breathe in will not be heated or humidified and will be too cold and dry for your lungs to function properly. As a result, you can experience more mucus, coughing, chest infections, irritation of your windpipe and related problems such as poor sleep and tiredness.

A heat and moisture exchanger (HME) can help your lungs to function better as the HME warms and humidifies the air you breathe.