title: Swallowing outcome after TORS for sleep apnea: short- and long-term evaluation.
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate outcomes related to swallowing function in patients who underwent transoral robotic surgery (TORS) for sleep apnea on both short- and long-term scales. 78 patients who underwent TORS for sleep apnea between 2011 and 2014 were followed up for an average period of 20 ± 7.12 months (range 7-32 months), then swallowing outcomes determined by MD Anderson Dysphagia Inventory (MDADI) questionnaire, gastrografin fluoroscopy imaging results, nasogastric tube dependence and subjectively by recording the patients' complaints were analyzed and reported. Minimal insignificant short-term impact on swallowing function (4.58 ± 7.03 preoperative MDADI score versus 5.18 ± 8.32 post-operative) (p = 0.56) was registered. Mean time for start of oral feeding was 1.05 ± 0.25 days (average, 1-3). In no case nasogastric tube feeding was required. Only five patients (6 %) showed significant aspiration on gastrografin fluoroscopy examination after 1 week; there was no significant correlation between the volume of tissue removed from both tongue base and epiglottis to the incidence of aspiration as shown by gastrografin fluoroscopy examination (p = 0.72). No long-term swallowing complaint was registered. Patients who underwent TORS tongue base reduction and supraglottoplasty for sleep apnea proved to have a reasonable short-term swallowing outcomes with no long-term sequelae.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Head-Neck Surgery, University of Zagazig, Zagazig, Egypt, dr.eesaorl@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eesa
authors.forename: Filippo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Montevecchi
authors.forename: Ehsan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hendawy
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: D'Agostino
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Meccariello
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vicini
mesh_terms: D003679:Deglutition; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D004534:Egypt; D005260:Female; D005471:Fluoroscopy / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D011184:Postoperative Period; D065287:Robotic Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000601:surgery*; D059525:Supraglottitis / Q000601:surgery; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014059:Tongue / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome