Recovery from postsurgical swallowing dysfunction in patients with oral cancer.

PURPOSE

The present study was focused on a comparison of postsurgical oropharyngeal swallowing efficiency and medical status indicators.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The swallowing function was assessed in 25 patients (18 males and 7 females) with oral cancer. The swallowing function was assessed preoperatively and 1, 6, and 12 months and in some cases more than 24 months after surgery. Assessment of the swallowing function consisted of videofluoroscopic evaluation (oropharyngeal swallow efficiency; OPSE) and details of the method of nutrition, diet level, nutritional condition, and occurrence of pneumonia.

RESULTS

Postsurgically, OPSE did not recover to the preoperative level more than 12 months after surgery. Twenty-one patients (84%) had full oral intake and only 3 patients (12%) showed poorer nutritional conditions compared with the presurgery state. Aspiration pneumonia did not occur more than 12 months after surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

The patients in the present study showed stable medical status and functional swallowing at the final evaluation despite insufficient recovery of OPSE revealed by videofluoroscopic evaluation.