Swallowing, nutritional status, and salivary flow in patients after head and neck cancer treatment, a pilot study

• Published in: Scientific reports 2021-10, Vol.11 (1), p.20233-20233, Article 20233
• Main Authors: de Carvalho, Mariana Inri, Gatti, Marina, Guedes, Renata Ligia Vieira, Froes, Renata Camilla Favarin, Costa, Danila Rodrigues, da Silva Vitor, Jhonatan, da Silva Santos, Paulo Sérgio, Berretin-Felix, Giédre
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 631/67; 692/4028; Adipose tissue; Adult; Anthropometry; Barium; Cancer Survivors; Cancer therapies; Deglutition Disorders - epidemiology; Deglutition Disorders - etiology; Deglutition Disorders - metabolism; Electromyography; Female; Food - classification; Head & neck cancer; Head and Neck Neoplasms - complications; Head and Neck Neoplasms - metabolism; Head and Neck Neoplasms - therapy; Humanities and Social Sciences; Humans; Male; Mechanical stimuli; Middle Aged; multidisciplinary; Muscle function; Muscles; Nutritional Status; Patients; Pilot Projects; Saliva - metabolism; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Swallowing
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-99208-w

Determine the relationship between swallowing function, nutritional status, and salivary flow in patients after head and neck cancer treatment. This pilot study included 17 patients. Swallowing was assessed through videofluoroscopy and surface electromyography (sEMG), nutritional status through anthropometry and dietary assessment, and salivary flow both with and without mechanical stimulation. Test analysis showed that 66.7% of patients had functional limitations in swallowing in 58.3%, 66.7%, and 58.3% residue scale with an average of a line of barium on a structure for pudding, honey, and liquid consistencies, respectively. Laryngeal penetration was found in 8.3% during the swallowing of liquid. Surface electromyography (sEMG) showed above normal values for muscle activity time during the swallowing of pudding. Anthropometric assessment and muscle and adipose tissue indicated eutrophy. Salivary flow test with mechanical stimulus showed that 82.3% of patients' salivary production was well below the appropriate level. There was a significant correlation between muscle tissue reserve and muscle activity time during swallowing in the studied muscles (left masseter p  = 0.003, right masseter p  = 0.001, suprahyoid p  = 0.001, orbicularis oris = 0.020), all in pudding consistency. This pilot study confirmed the relationship between swallowing and nutritional status for its participants, showing that appropriate protein intake influences muscle activity during swallowing in head and neck cancer survivors.