[Dysphagia] tongue reconstruction

[lschmidt at jamestownhospital.com (Lonna.Schmidt)]

I am currently seeing a quite young patient with a malignant neoplasm of
the tongue with radical neck dissection, bilateral complete glossectomy
with the tongue being reconstructed from arm muscles.  She is currently
PEG tubed, has a temporary trach which is able to be plugged about 5
hours at a time.  She is about 5 weeks post surgery with radiation and
chemo treatments to begin this week and last for 6 weeks.  She really
wants to eat badly and I have gotten some tongue movement that she is
able to swallow more of her saliva and requiring less suctioning.  I
have seen quite a few individuals with glossectomies but never one with
a tongue reconstruction.  Does anyone have a feeling for prognosis for
returning to PO intake?  I am quite surprised that she is able to get
some back tongue movements and actually swallow.  I wonder what chemo
and radiation will do to that.  Any suggestions?

Lonna J. Schmidt MST-CCC-SLP
Speech Pathologist
Jamestown Hospital
Jamestown ND