Oral Diet Outcomes and Tracheostomy Avoidance After Submental Flap Reconstruction of Oral and Oropharyngeal Defects.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

The submental island flap can be used to reconstruct defects of the oral cavity and oropharynx. The objective of this study is to describe functional outcomes after this reconstruction.

Methods

Retrospective chart review was performed for 82 patients who underwent submental flap reconstruction of oral cavity cancer defects and 11 with oropharyngeal cancer defects. Primary outcomes were feeding tube use at last follow-up and time from surgery to first oral intake. The secondary outcome was the need for tracheostomy.

Results

Feeding tube use at last follow-up was 9% in the oral cavity group and 36% in the oropharynx group. Median time to oral intake was 7 days in both groups. Tracheostomy was avoided in 87% of oral cavity patients and in 46% of oropharynx pat

SUBMITTER: Wu MP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12493023 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature