S193 – Voice and Swallowing after Jugular Foramen Surgery
Objectives This study was designed to evaluate the role and timing of surgical procedures for voice and swallowing rehabilitation in patients after surgery for jugular foramen tumors. Methods A retrospective case series. The records of patients operated for jugular foramen tumors from January 2002 to February 2008 were reviewed for lower cranial nerves function, hoarseness, dysphagia and aspiration, recovery course and rehabilitation procedures. Results 17 patients underwent surgery for jugular foramen tumors. Tumors included 12 glomus jugulare, 4 schwannomas and 1 meningioma. 3 patients had presented with vagal and glossopharyngeal paralysis and 6 more patients developed post-operative paralysis. All patients with paralysis experienced dysphagia and hoarsheness. 6 experienced aspiration. Gastrostomy or nasogastric tube feeding were required in 3 patients. 7 patients did not recover nerve function by the end of follow-up. Treatments to improve voice and swallowing included vocal cord medialization by collagen injection (n=3), thyroplasty type 1 (n=5) with arytenoid adduction (n=4), cricopharyngeal myotomy (n=2), and palatal adhesion (n=3). Conclusions Postoperative dysphonia, dysphagia, and aspiration are common in patients after surgery for jugular foramen tumors. Most patients are unlikely to regain vagal or glossopharyngeal nerve functions at 1 year of follow-up, and will eventually elect to undergo corrective surgery to improve voice quality and swallowing function. Preoperative evaluation and close postoperative follow-up by an experienced laryngologist will help identify patients who will benefit from early surgical rehabilitation.