Which statement indicates a need for further preoperative teaching for total laryngectomy?

• A. After surgery, I will breathe only through a hole in my neck.
• B. My wife will have to get a hearing aid because I will not be able to talk above a whisper.
• C. I must have smoke detectors installed at home since I may not be able to smell after surgery.
• D. After surgery, I will have a tube going through my nose to my stomach for feeding.

Answer: (C)

After a total laryngectomy, airflow is redirected through a stoma in the neck, bypassing the nose. Olfactory function largely depends on air passing through the nasal passages, so smell is often diminished or lost. Because smell helps people notice hazards like smoke, a patient may not detect smoke unless alerted by a detector. Emphasizing the need for smoke detectors and other non-olfactory safety measures reflects understanding of this sensory change and the corresponding safety precautions that should be covered in preoperative teaching. The other statements describe postoperative realities or common misconceptions, but they don’t highlight the safety adaptation that results from reduced smell as clearly as recognizing the need for reliable smoke detection.