Provox Life Laryngectomy Pulmonary Kit (LP Kit)

Designed with care. Backed by evidence.

The LP Kit ensures every breath taken post-surgery is a step towards the best pulmonary health and fewer negative outcomes. ^{1 2 3}

The LP Kit is an ‘all-in-one’ evidence-based kit to support you in successfully implementing post-operative HME use. This will provide your patients with immediate access to an appropriate high level of humidification and establish an HME routine from day one.

Established in the United States in 2009, it is an evidence-based post-operative pulmonary health kit that has been used in over 390 facilities, with over 25,000 patients.

According to the RCSLT “All people with laryngectomy should be considered for early post-operative pulmonary rehabilitation, including considering use of an HME within 24 hours of surgery if possible”. A recent survey of UK clinicians identified that the initiation of an HME post-operatively can vary from in-theatre placement to after discharge. The LP Kit has been designed to support you and your patients to achieve the goal of immediate humidification and reduce the number of adverse consequences.

Top tips for getting patients started with their HME

When patients first come out of surgery, it is suggested that they start their rehabilitation journey by wearing the Provox Life Night HME for recovery, as it is soft, has two side ports for breathing and has the highest level of humidification as the patient adapts to the new way of breathing.

The Provox Life Home HME for daytime use can be introduced when the patient is mobilising more or once they have been cleared to speak with their voice prosthesis. This will result in the patient having an established day and night HME regime at the time of discharge home, which will lead to improved longer term HME compliance and pulmonary health.

The HME must be replaced at least every 24 hours to maintain optimal tracheal climate and reduce the risk of bacterial growth within the HME. It should not be rinsed with any type of soap or water. It is important to remember not to place any external humidification over the HME otherwise the HME will become saturated and may cause distress for the patient. The HME must be removed when external humidification, such as nebulisers, are required.

Designed with care - We are here to help with support before, during and after.

At Atos, we understand a change to practice takes time, consideration and collaboration. To support you in a smooth transition to better patient outcomes we have a number of resources available to you:

• Face to face or virtual training from our Atos Clinical Education Team
• Full and comprehensive HME implementation package
• Clinical pathways based on current practice
• Clinical evidence
• FAQs written by long term users
• Live and recorded educational webinars
• A patient support site (Home | The Laryngectomy Site)
• Atos Care – Our support and product ordering service

References

• Merol JC, Charpiot A, Langagne T, Hemar P, Ackerstaff AH, Hilgers FJ. Randomizewd controlled trial on postoperative pulmonary humidification after total laryngectomy: External humidifier versus heat and moisture exchanger. Laryngoscope. 2012;122(2):275-81
• Foreman A, De Santis RJ, Sultanov F, Enepekides DJ, Higgins KM. Heat and moisture exchanger use reduces in-hospital complications following total laryngectomy: a case-control study. J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2016;45(1):40.
• Ebersole B, Moran K, Gou J, Ridge J, Schiech L, Liu JC, et al. Heat and moisture exchanger cassettes: Results of a quality/safety initiative to reduce postoperative mucus plugging after total laryngectomy. Head Neck. 2020.