title: Rehabilitation of lower cranial nerve deficits.
abstract: Lower cranial nerve deficits following skull base surgery can be accompanied by significant morbidity, especially if the vagus nerve has been sacrificed or injured. Loss of pharyngeal function and glottic closure can result in dysphagia and aspiration. Left untreated, these can result in the major morbidity for the patient following skull base surgery. The authors discuss the management of lower cranial nerve deficits, with emphasis on rehabilitation of swallowing function and prevention of aspiration following vagal injury.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Eibling
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Boyd
mesh_terms: D000055:Accessory Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003389:Cranial Nerve Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D005930:Glossopharyngeal Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007002:Hypoglossal Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007830:Larynx / Q000601:surgery; D015607:Stents; D014630:Vagus Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology*