Abstract

MARTIN VILLARES, C. et al. Postoperative nutritional support in head and neck cancer patients. Nutr. Hosp. [online]. 2003, vol.18, n.5, pp.243-247. ISSN 1699-5198.

Patients who underwent surgery for head and neck malignant neoplasms are problematic because dysphagia, pain and postoperative secuelaes. Nutritional support is necesary in more than 90% of all patients with head and neck cancer. The purpose of this study is to determine nutritional support in these patients and problems related to nutrition. Methods: Fiftyfour patients with oral and pharyngolaryngeal carcinomas underwent surgery were studied prospectively. We studied nutritional support (oral nutrition, enteral nutrition or parenteral nutrition) and problems related to nutrition: aspiration neumoniae and pharyngostoma. Results: The 7% of the patients unwent oral feeding after surgery, 87% enteral nutrition with nasogastric tube and 6% parenteral nutrition. We identified neumoniae in 6% of patients and faringocutaneous fistula in 19%. When patients leaved the hospital, 98% of the patients unwent oral feeding and one patient had nasopharyngeal tube for enteral nutrition. Conclusiones: 1. Artificial nutrition was necesary in 93% patientes with oropharyngolaryngealcancer; 2. Enteral nutrition was the most useful modality of alimentation (87%); 3. 25% of patients had postoperative complications: (18% pharyngostoma, 6% neumoniae); 4. Oral feeding was posible in 98% of patients out of hospital.

Keywords : Head neck neoplasms; Malnutrition; Pharyngostoma; Tumor recurrence.

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