Swallowing Disorders after Laryngectomy

Abstract

Laryngectomy is a surgical procedure that leaves mutilating functional consequences for the patient, one of which is often a swallowing disorder. Swallowing disorders after laryngectomy can be of varying degrees and can occur at any time in the postoperative period. Some consequences that interfere with swallowing difficulties after laryngectomy are: edema, pain in the soft tissues of the cheeks and neck, dental problems, xerostomia, hyposalivation or fibrosis of masticatory muscles, and odynophagia. The diagnostic processing of dysphagia includes detailed anamnestic data collection, instrumental and clinical evaluation of swallowing, and self-assessment of swallowing. Swallowing rehabilitation is individual and carried out by an interdisciplinary team within a healthcare facility that has the necessary medical equipment and aids to care for patients with dysphagia and the consequences of dysphagia. The purpose of rehabilitation is to provide the patient with safe oral feeding that will meet his nutritional needs and prevent the possible consequences of dysphagia. Detecting early clinical signs of dysphagia enables timely therapeutic intervention and prevention of secondary consequences of dysphagia, which is especially important in oncology patients.