A patient who has had a laryngectomy has a permanent stoma and cannot be intubated orally or nasally.

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Multiple Choice

A patient who has had a laryngectomy has a permanent stoma and cannot be intubated orally or nasally.

After a total laryngectomy, the airway is redirected to a permanent opening in the neck called a stoma. The upper airway through the mouth and nose is no longer connected to the trachea, so there is no route for endotracheal tubes to reach the lungs via oral or nasal intubation. Airway management must proceed through the tracheostomy stoma, typically with a tracheostomy tube. Because of this anatomy, the statement that a patient cannot be intubated orally or nasally is correct.

After a total laryngectomy, the airway is redirected to a permanent opening in the neck called a stoma. The upper airway through the mouth and nose is no longer connected to the trachea, so there is no route for endotracheal tubes to reach the lungs via oral or nasal intubation. Airway management must proceed through the tracheostomy stoma, typically with a tracheostomy tube. Because of this anatomy, the statement that a patient cannot be intubated orally or nasally is correct.

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