title: Rehabilitation of swallowing with polydimethylsiloxane injections in patients who underwent partial laryngectomy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We conducted this longitudinal prospective study to illustrate a surgical technique for swallowing rehabilitation of patients after partial laryngectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nine patients with persistent swallowing impairment after partial laryngectomy were included in the study. Evaluation of swallowing was performed by fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES), and was quantified using 2 scales: a dysphagia score and a modified penetration-aspiration scale. The site of bolus inhalation was identified. Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) was injected into the neoglottis to fill these passages, and to obtain a certain continence of the organ.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean follow-up was 25 months (range, 5-39). All patients showed an improvement both in the dysphagia score and in the modified penetration-aspiration scale. Average improvement was 2.6 points in the dysphagia score (p = .0042) and 2.1 points in the modified penetration-aspiration scale (p = .0043).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PDMS injection can be considered as an option in surgical rehabilitation of swallowing in patients who underwent partial laryngectomy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Policlinico di Modena, Modena 41100, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bergamini
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alicandri-Ciufelli
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Molteni
authors.forename: Daniele Romolo
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: De Siati
authors.forename: Maria Pia
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Luppi
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Marchioni
authors.forename: Livio
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Presutti
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003679:Deglutition / Q000187:drug effects*; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D004129:Dimethylpolysiloxanes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015552:Injections, Intralesional; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D007825:Laryngectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D007828:Laryngoscopy / Q000379:methods; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011336:Probability; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D018570:Risk Assessment; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D004129:Dimethylpolysiloxanes