Effect of early swallowing treatment on dysphagia and quality of life in tongue cancer patients after surgery

doi:10.19438/j.cjoms.2017.03.012

Abstract

Abstract: PURPOSE: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of early swallowing treatment on dysphagia and quality of life (QOL) in tongue cancer patients after surgery. METHODS: A sample of 134 tongue cancer patients aging 36 to 74 years was divided into treatment group (67 patients) and control group (67 patients). All patients were scheduled to undergo partial tongue resection and flap reconstruction. Changes in dysphagia and QOL before and after swallowing training (10 days and 20 days after operation) were measured. The 10-item Eating Assessment Tool (EAT-10) and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Head and Neck (FACT-H&N) were used to evaluate the severity of dysphagia and QOL, respectively. The data were analyzed by using SPSS 13.0 software package. RESULTS: The EAT-10 scores were significantly higher and the FACT-H&N scores were significantly lower than those measured in the treatment group after swallowing treatment. No significant difference was observed in either score between the two time points in the control group. The EAT-10 scores and FACT-H&N scores of the treatment group after swallowing training were significantly lower and higher, respectively, than those measured 20 days after operation in the control group（P＜0.05）. Lower EAT-10 scores were associated with higher FACT-H&N scores（P＜0.01）. CONCLUSIONS: Early identification and management of postoperative dysphagia in tongue cancer patients can improve swallowing outcomes and QOL.

Key words: Dysphagia, Quality of life, Swallowing treatment, Tongue cancer

CLC Number:

R739.8

HUANG Zhuo-shan, ZHANG Da-min, WANG You-yuan, XIAO Ling-jun, CHEN Wei-liang.. Effect of early swallowing treatment on dysphagia and quality of life in tongue cancer patients after surgery[J]. China Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, 2017, 15(3): 249-253.

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