TEL＆Fax 81-11-706-42831 Purpose: The present study was focused on a comparison of post-surgical oropharyngeal swallow efficiency and medical status indicators. Study design: The swallowing function was assessed in 25 patients (18 males and 7 females) with oral cancer. The swallowing function was assessed preoperatively, and 1, 6, and 12 months and in some cases more than 24 months after surgery. Assessment of the swallowing function consisted of videofluoroscopic evaluation (oropharyngeal swallow efficiency; OPSE) and details of the method of nutrition, diet level, nutritional condition, and occurrence of pneumonia. Results: Post-surgically OPSE did not recover to the preoperative level more than 12 months after surgery. Twenty-one patients (84%) had full oral intake and only three patients (12%) showed poorer nutritional conditions compared to the pre-surgery state. Aspiration pneumonia did not occur more than 12 months after surgery. Conclusions: The patients in the present study showed stable medical status and functional swallowing at the final evaluation despite of the insufficient recovery of the oropharyngeal swallow efficiency revealed by videofluoroscopic evaluation .

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