title: Alteration of the oral environment in patients undergoing esophagectomy during the perioperative period.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  During the perioperative period, oral ingestion is changed considerably in esophagectomy patients. The aim of this study was to investigate oral environment modifications in patients undergoing esophageal cancer treatments due to changes in dietary intake and swallowing functions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty patients who underwent operation for removal of esophageal cancer in Tokushima University Hospital were enrolled in this study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  It was found that 1) the flow rate of resting saliva decreased significantly at postoperative period by deprived feeding for one week, although it did not recover several days after oral ingestion began, 2) the accumulation of dental plaque and the number of mutans streptococci in saliva decreased significantly after operation, while both increased relatively quick when oral ingestion began, and 3) the swallowing function decreased significantly in the postoperative period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that dental professionals should emphasize the importance of oral health care and provide instructions on plaque control to patients during the perioperative period of esophageal cancer treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Health and Welfare, Institute of Health Biosciences, The University of Tokushima Graduate School, Tokushima, Japan. masami@dent.tokushima-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Masami
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yoshioka
authors.forename: Daisuke
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hinode
authors.forename: Yota
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Yoshihito
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Furukita
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tangoku
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003679:Deglutition / Q000502:physiology*; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000503:physiopathology; D004435:Eating / Q000502:physiology; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D016629:Esophagectomy / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D059035:Perioperative Period; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology; D012472:Salivation / Q000502:physiology; D012636:Secretory Rate / Q000502:physiology; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000254:growth & development; D013997:Time Factors