Most patients undergoing tracheal or cricotracheal resection experienced complete resolution of dysphagia symptoms during initial follow-up, according to findings published in JAMA Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery. Christopher Lui, MD, and colleagues assessed patients undergoing tracheal resection at two academic centers for dysphagia symptoms as measured by the functional oral intake scale (FOIS) on postoperative days (PODs) 3, 5, and 7, on the day of discharge, and at 1-month follow-up. Among 54 patients (mean age, 47; 63% men), the length of resection segment ranged from 2-6 cm. Median FOIS score was 4 on PODs 3, 5, and 7. At discharge and the 1-month postoperative follow-up, median FOIS scores were 5 and 7, respectively. Increasing patient age was moderately associated with decreasing FOIS scores at all measured time points. History of neurological disease, including traumatic brain injury, intraoperative hyoid release, and resection length were not associated with FOIS score at any time point.
