Portal laryngectomy

In selected cases, patients with advanced laryngeal cancer undergo a laryngectomy and  radiotherapy. A laryngectomy is the surgical removal of the larynx and separation of the airway from the mouth, nose and esophagus. The laryngectomee breathes through an opening in the neck, a laryngectomy stoma. There are different methods available for post-laryngectomy voice rehabilitation (e.g. esophageal speech: speech is produced through burping, tracheoesophageal speech with the use of a voice prosthesis, and electrolaryngeal speech, where a fundamental sound is produced by battery powered equipment). Supportive care providers include a nurse, a dietician, a physiotherapist, a speech therapist and social worker. They provide information and specialized care.

The goal of this project is to develop a self-management portal with information on laryngectomy stoma care and voice prosthesis care, nutrition, fitness and physical condition, speech rehabilitation and a guided exercise program (www.verderzonderstembanden.nl).

The e-health development cycle is used with a developing phase, usability tests and outcome evaluation. The project is in the developmental phase.

An expert team is composed developing the content of the self-help portal including:

ENT surgeons: Simone Eerenstein, Rico Rinkel

Nurses:  Machteld van Driel, Yvonne Cruijff-Bijl

Speech and swallowing therapists: IJke Aalders, Klaske v.d. Berg, Ingrid Cnossen

Physiotherapists: Cees de Goede, Edwin Geleijn

Dieticians: Ans van Stijgeren, Jacqueline Langius

Psychologist: Irma Verdonck-de Leeuw

Social work: Francine Eskens

ICT-analist: Ton Houffelaar

Representatives of the Netherlands Society of Laryngectomees (NSvG)

Collaboration
This project is a collaboration with the department of Otolaryngology / head and neck surgery, department of Radiotherapy and Oncology of the VUmc in Amsterdam and UMCG Groningen and department of Rehabilitation Medicine, departments Physiotherapy, Dietetics and Medical Social Work of the VUmc.

Funding
Michel Keijzer Fonds / the Netherlands Society of Laryngectomees (NSvG) (2011 – 2015)

Staff
PhD student
I.C. Cnossen MSc, Speech Language Pathologist (SLP), clinical epidemiologist
Project leaders
Prof I.M. Verdonck-de Leeuw, PhD, Psychologist, Speech and Language Therapist, Linguïst, dpt. Otolaryngology-Head&Neck Surgery, VUmc.

Prof C.R. Leemans, PhD MD, Head & Neck Surgeon, ENT-specialist, dpt. Otolaryngology-Head&Neck Surgery, VUmc.

prof. R. de Bree PhD MD, Head & Neck Surgeon, ENT-specialist, dpt. Otolaryngology-Head&Neck Surgery, VUmc.

S. Eerenstein, MD, ENT-specialist, dpt. Otolaryngology-Head&Neck Surgery, VUmc.

Project members

R.N.P.M. Rinkel, MD,  ENT-specialist, laryngologist, dpt. Otolaryngology-Head&Neck Surgery, VUmc.

M. van Driel, Nurse, dpt. Otolaryngology-Head&Neck Surgery, VUmc.

Y. Cruijff-Bijl, Nurse, dpt. Otolaryngology-Head&Neck Surgery, VUmc.

Y.J. Aalders, Speech therapist, dpt. Otolaryngology-Head&Neck Surgery, VUmc.

K. van de Berg, Speech therapist, dpt. Otolaryngology-Head&Neck Surgery, VUmc.

C.J.T. de Goede MSc, Physiotherapist, dpt. Rehabilitation Medicine, VUmc

E. Geleijn, Physiotherapist, dpt. Rehabilitation Medicine, VUmc

A. van Stijgeren, Oncology Dietician, dpt. Dietetics and Nutrition Sciences, VUmc

J. Langius, Dietician, Nutrition and cancer researcher, dpt. Dietetics and Nutrition Sciences, VUmc

F.J.M. Eskens, Medical Social Worker, dpt. Medical Social Work, VUmc

A. Houffelaar, BSc, Information Analyst, System Administrator, dpt of. Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, VUmc

Questions?
For questions, please contact:
Ingrid Cnossen MSc, Speech Language Pathologist (SLP), clinical epidemiologist
E-mail: i.cnossen@vumc.nl
Phone: + 31 (0)20-4440675