Multidisciplinary management of dysphagic patient in oncologic head and neck surgery

Aim. Diagnosis, treatment and cure of patients affected by head and neck tumours may be complex and require the organised intervention of many specialists with specific skills and clinical experiences (counseling education and relation with the patient). In this paper we considered the multidisaplinary management of patients affected by head and neck tumors developed by the I ENT division of the University of Turin, evaluating the case reports of about 23 patients followed from January to December 2007. Analysis focused in particular on the pre- and postsurgery information, the speech therapy counseling, the rehabilitation plan management having the aim to avoid anxiety, depression and distress. Methods. The multitask team was composed by an ENT doctor, a speech therapist, a radiotherapist, a gastroenterologist, an anesthetist, some practical nurses, a dentist, a physiatrist, a physiotherapist, a dietician, a nutritionist and a radiologist. A questionnaire about the patient's compliance and the speech therapy management during the pre- and postsurgery period was developed, with the purpose to verify the customer satisfaction. Results. From the data's analysis a high degree of satisfaction for the received information emerged together with the appreciation of the psychological and technical support provided by the specialized personnel involved. Conclusion. A quick recovery often derives from the technical skills of the personnel, but also from the rehabilitation process and patient's willingness to face his/her illness and its functional and emotional consequences.