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Rehabilitation of swallowing with polydimethylsiloxane injections in patients who underwent partial laryngectomy
Author(s) -
Bergamini Giuseppe,
AlicandriCiufelli Matteo,
Molteni Gabriele,
De Siati Daniele Romolo,
Luppi Maria Pia,
Marchioni Daniele,
Presutti Livio
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
head and neck
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.012
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1097-0347
pISSN - 1043-3074
DOI - 10.1002/hed.21064
Subject(s) - swallowing , laryngectomy , rehabilitation , medicine , surgery , physical therapy , larynx
Background. We conducted this longitudinal prospective study to illustrate a surgical technique for swallowing rehabilitation of patients after partial laryngectomy.Methods. Nine patients with persistent swallowing impairment after partial laryngectomy were included in the study. Evaluation of swallowing was performed by fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES), and was quantified using 2 scales: a dysphagia score and a modified penetration‐aspiration scale. The site of bolus inhalation was identified. Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) was injected into the neoglottis to fill these passages, and to obtain a certain continence of the organ.Results. Mean follow‐up was 25 months (range, 5–39). All patients showed an improvement both in the dysphagia score and in the modified penetration‐aspiration scale. Average improvement was 2.6 points in the dysphagia score ( p = .0042) and 2.1 points in the modified penetration‐aspiration scale ( p = .0043).Conclusion. PDMS injection can be considered as an option in surgical rehabilitation of swallowing in patients who underwent partial laryngectomy. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2009