Pre and post-surgical dysphagia outcome associated with posterior fossa tumour in children.
BACKGROUND
Swallowing impairment (dysphagia) has been reported as a possible sequela following surgical removal of posterior fossa tumours (PFT). Dysphagia may result in aspiration of food/fluid leading to respiratory tract infection, placing the patient at considerable health risk. No prospective studies have investigated dysphagia pre and post-surgical removal of PFT. The present study aimed to document the presence, severity and characteristics of dysphagia pre and post-surgical resection of PFT, and to determine whether children were managing a normal oral diet (i.e. a measure of functional swallowing ability) at two months post-surgery.


METHODS
Dysphagia was assessed using a clinical bedside evaluation in 11 participants (8 M; aged 3 years 6 months to 13 years 5 months) pre (within 3-5 days) and post-surgery (within 1-2 weeks). Return to normal oral feeding was documented at two months post-surgery via a parent telephone interview.


CONCLUSIONS
No participant had dysphagia pre-surgically. Seventy three percent (8/11) had dysphagia at 1-2 weeks post-surgery, primarily characterized by impaired lip closure (8/8), poor mastication (8/8), and inefficient oral transit (8/8). Whilst dysphagia severity was largely mild (6/8) in presentation, data suggest that assessment and monitoring of this disorder may be required in the acute phase post-surgery. Overall however, prognosis appeared positive, with 75% (6/8) of participants managing a full oral diet at 2 months post-surgery.
Morgan
Angela Tamsin
AT
Language and Literacy Group, Healthy Development Theme, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, 50 Flemington Road, Parkville, 3052 Melbourne, VIC, Australia. angela.morgan@mcri.edu.au
Sell
Deborah
D
Ryan
Martina
M
Raynsford
Elizabeth
E
Hayward
Richard
R
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015192:Infratentorial Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015995:Prevalence