[Rehabilitation of the olfactory sense after laryngectomy -- the larynx bypass]

BACKGROUND

Patients after laryngectomy lose their previous sense of smell, since air normally circulates via the tracheostoma and active air intake through the nose is no longer possible. The larynx bypass with a throat mask is an aid here. Nasal air circulation is made possible by this connecting piece between the mouth and tracheostoma.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Twenty patients (17 men and 3 women, mean age 60 years) who underwent laryngectomy between November 2003 and February 2004 were examined using Sniffin' Sticks with and without the larynx bypass. Moreover, patients were asked about the practicability of the larynx bypass using a visual analog scale (VAS). In addition to larynx bypass function, we were also interested in the handling for the laryngectomized patients.

RESULTS

Overall, patients were able to correctly identify more items with the larynx bypass. The results were significantly better with than without the larynx bypass (p < 0.001). However, the first application of the larynx bypass was considered cumbersome. The median VAS was 5.

CONCLUSION

Patients had a better sense of smell with the larynx bypass. However, due to its rather moderate practicability, the larynx bypass does not seem to be suited for daily use in its present form.

Magnetic resonance imaging findings of basal cell adenoma in Curschmann-Steinert myotonic dystrophy

Myotonic dystrophy Curschmann Steinert is a common hereditary disorder that in some cases can be combined with cutaneous tumors, which is an association that is rarely described in the literature. We present the magnetic resonance imaging in the unusual combination of a patient with known myotonic dystrophy and recurrent basal cell tumor.