title: Prognostic factors for swallowing rehabilitation following head and neck cancer surgery.
abstract: Thirty-two head and neck surgical patients with prolonged moderate to severe aspiration were assessed with videoendoscopic and videofluoroscopic swallowing studies to reveal all components of dysphagia and aspiration. All patients received functional swallowing therapy, and 75% of the patients regained full oral intake diet. The duration of non-oral feeding varied widely. The outcome of swallowing rehabilitation (success or failure, duration of non-oral feeding) was statistically correlated with preoperative tumour stage, patients' age, therapy onset, severity of aspiration and the results of the videofluoroscopic measurements of oral and pharyngeal transit time, pharyngeal delay time, duration of laryngeal closure and cricopharyngeal opening, hyoid and laryngeal elevation, presence or absence of a stenosis at the pharyngoesophageal segment. The following factors proved to be statistically significant for the prognostic estimate of swallowing rehabilitation: preoperative tumour stage, therapy onset, and severity of aspiration. For postoperative swallow recovery, an early therapy onset after thorough diagnostics with videoendoscopic and videofluoroscopic swallowing studies is recommended. Videofluoroscopic measurements will yield some prognostic estimate of oropharyngeal dysphagia and aspiration. Videoendoscopy, by it's availability and immediacy, proved to be useful for monitoring the course of rehabilitation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Denk
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Swoboda
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Schima
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Eibenberger
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005471:Fluoroscopy / Q000379:methods; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014741:Video Recording