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Purpose: The aim of the study is to demonstrate the effectiveness of spraying odor particles using sinus rinse kits for olfactory rehabilitation in patients with total laryngectomy. Methods: Olfactory rehabilitation was performed by applying four different odorant particles orthonasally using a sinus rinse kit pump for 30 min each day for a duration of 6 months. Olfactory function was evaluated by performing olfactory tests before the rehabilitation and at sixth month after the rehabilitation process. Results: The average CCCRC score prior to olfactory rehabilitation was 2.28 ± 0.79 (between 1.50 and 3.75), while it was 4.46 ± 0.5 (between 3.50 and 5.25) out of a maximum score of 7 after 6 months of olfactory rehabilitation (p value < 0.0001) Conclusion: Our results suggest that the use of sinus rinse kits is very simple, inexpensive, easy-to-use, and effective in providing passive olfaction to patients requiring olfactory rehabilitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: We used a questionnaire to investigate olfactory function and the present state of olfactory rehabilitation for laryngectomized patients in Japan.Methods: This study was conducted using a questionnaire survey. We mailed questionnaires to 190 members of a Japanese laryngectomized patient group (the nonprofit organization YOUSAY-KAI). The survey queried the following items: (1) basic information (age, sex, alaryngeal speech method, etc.); (2) questions about olfactory rehabilitation, such as the individual's experience of olfactory rehabilitation, the number of days from laryngectomy to the start of olfactory rehabilitation, and the location of rehabilitation (i.e., hospital or patient association); (3) free comments; and (4) the self-administered Odor Questionnaire (SAOQ).Results: We received 121/190 questionnaires by the submission deadline. Of these, 105 questionnaires were valid. All 105 responders used the Provox voice prosthesis as the alaryngeal speech method. Only 4.7% (5/105) of the patients received olfactory rehabilitation in hospitals. Many comments in the free comment column included demands for olfactory rehabilitation such as "I want to know where we can have olfactory rehabilitation" and "I want to have rehabilitation if olfaction recovers." The SAOQ score was significantly higher in the rehabilitation group (mean, 42.5%) compared to the nonrehabilitation group (mean, 22.1%) (p<0.05). There was no correlation between the SAOQ score and the number of days from laryngectomy to the start of rehabilitation (r=0.08, p=0.76)． CONCLUSION: Patient demand for olfactory rehabilitation is strong, but this therapy is not widely offered to laryngectomized patients in Japan. Notably, the SAOQ scores showed that olfactory rehabilitation may have an effect, even if it is initiated after laryngectomy. We believe that when patients choose voice prosthesis for speech, their olfaction deteriorates unless they undergo olfactory rehabilitation separately from speech rehabilitation. It is therefore necessary to administer olfactory rehabilitation for laryngectomized patients who have never received olfactory rehabilitation, as well as for patients scheduled to undergo laryngectomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Current recommendations in medicine emphasise not only medical treatment of the neoplastic diseases but also a need of complex rehabilitation of the patients. Although the olfaction is always impaired after laryngectomy, the rehabilitation of the patients after that type of surgery rarely includes methods that are aimed at restoring the ability to smell. Aim. Subjective assessment of the olfactory organ in patients after larygectomy and an analysis of the course and success rate of rehabilitation of the olfactory sense carried out as a part of routine post-operative care of these patients. Material and methods. The study group included 80 patients (20 women and 60 men), mean age 62,1±8,6 years, after total laryngectomy. All patients filled the questionnaire and underwent both laryngological examination and a 2-week rehabilitation of the olfactory sense intended to enforce air infl ow through the nasal cavity. Results. Seventy two patients (90%) reported a partial or complete loss of smell after laryngectomy. After the rehabilitation, 35 patients (43.8%) noticed an improvement of smelling. The results of olfaction rehabilitation were found to be unaff ected by age, gender, type of voice rehabilitation or chemotherapy. The only factors that adversely aff ected the rate of success of the rehabilitation were radiotherapy and long time since the surgery till the commencement of rehabilitation procedures. Conclusions. Disorders of the olfactory organ are frequent after laryngectomy and could be easily diagnosed by medical interview. Olfactory sense rehabilitation in the patients after laryngectomy should be an obligatory part of the full postlaryngectomy medical care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]