Conquer the CRRN Challenge 2026 – Elevate Your Nursing Skills and Shine!

Individuals who have undergone a laryngectomy, which is the surgical removal of the larynx (voice box), experience significant changes in various bodily functions, particularly breathing and coughing patterns. After a laryngectomy, the airway is rerouted, and the person breathes through a stoma (an opening in the neck). This alteration affects how they cough and breathe, as the usual mechanisms for clearing the airways and producing sound are disrupted.

The other statements do not accurately represent the changes that occur post-laryngectomy. Speech is indeed affected, as patients may require alternative methods of communication such as esophageal speech, tracheoesophageal puncture, or the use of artificial larynx devices. Eating may also not be "normal," as individuals can face swallowing difficulties and may need to follow specific dietary modifications, and rehabilitation is often required to help adjust to these new conditions and regain effective communication techniques. Hence, recognizing that breathing and coughing patterns change is fundamental to understanding the physiological implications of laryngectomy.