TRACHEOTOMY TUBE OCCLUSION STATUS AND ASPIRATION IN EARLY POSTSURGICAL HEAD AND NECK-CANCER PATIENTS

The purpose of the present study was to investigate tracheotomy tube o cclusion status and prevalence of aspiration utilizing videofluoroscop y. A prospective study was done of 16 consecutive, early, postsurgical head and neck cancer patients with tracheotomy. Selection criteria in cluded the ability to tolerate tracheotomy tube occlusion prior to and during the modified barium swallow procedure, oral and/or pharyngeal surgical resection, no history of neurological disease or stroke, and medical clearance to begin oral feeding. There was 100% agreement amon g the independent reviewers on ratings of the presence or absence of a spiration. It was found that occlusion status of the tracheotomy tube did not influence the prevalence of aspiration in the immediate postop erative period. No trends were observed when comparing bolus consisten cy, type of tracheotomy tube, or presence/absence of a nasogastric tub e and the ratings of aspiration.