Zusammenfassung
Objectives: The aim of this retrospective study was to analyze the early postoperative swallowing outcome in oral cancer patients considering risk factors and localization. Materials and methods: Four hundred patients with primary cases of oral cancer were included. Tumors' locations were categorized into four main groups (central, lateral, anterior and posterior). Swallowing function was ...
Zusammenfassung
Objectives: The aim of this retrospective study was to analyze the early postoperative swallowing outcome in oral cancer patients considering risk factors and localization. Materials and methods: Four hundred patients with primary cases of oral cancer were included. Tumors' locations were categorized into four main groups (central, lateral, anterior and posterior). Swallowing function was evaluated at day 7 after surgery. Results: Ninety-eight percent (393/400) of the patients had a swallowing impairment including 41 (10.2%) patients who were unable to swallow. Strong risk factors with p values of 0.001 were tumor size, nodal stage, tracheotomy, insufficient dental status and reconstruction with a flap. The inability to swallow was increased at T1 und T2 patients, if they were reconstructed with a flap compared to patients who had a primary wound closure (p = 0.04). Decreased swallowing function was determined if the tumor was located central (OR = 1.8; p = 0.141) and additionally posterior (OR = 5.8; p = 0.110). Inability to swallow, even at that early point in time, (p = 0.001) was as significant as tumor size (p = 0.009) and nodal stage (p = 0.020), referring to overall survival. Conclusion: The impact of early dysphagia should not be underestimated. By considering swallowing impairment at the primary therapy patients can profit concerning survival and comorbidity. (C) 2019 European Association for Cranio-Maxillo-Facial Surgery. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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