Pulmonary evolution and quality of life in treated head and neck cancer patients with dysphagia

• Grant number: 11/08292-5
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: October 01, 2011
• End date: September 30, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Speech Therapy
• Principal Investigator: Elisabete Carrara-Angelis
• Grantee: Elisabete Carrara-Angelis
• Host Institution: A C Camargo Cancer Center. Fundação Antonio Prudente (FAP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Simone Aparecida Claudino da Silva

Abstract

There are not well established criteria about the security of oral feeding on patients presenting laryngeal aspiration. The objectives of this study are to evaluate pulmonary quality of life and to identify risk factors related to postoperative pulmonary complications in patients with dysphagia in head and neck cancer. This is a prospective study will be included patients undergoing treatment for cancer of head and neck from March 2011 to March 2013 regardless of sex, age and form of curative treatment. Patients should be able to understand and answer the questionnaires, and agree to participate in the study signing an informed consent. Patients will be evaluated 4 times: pretreatment, 30 days, 6 months and 1 year after completion of treatment. To identify risk factors for developing pulmonary complications will be analyzed demographic data, cigarette smoking, alcohol, drugs that change gastric pH, body mass index, laboratory determinations of serum albumin, oral hygiene, patient compliance, family support, physical activity and level of consciousness. The diagnosis of pneumonia will be accomplished through the radiological diagnosis, clinical and laboratory. Patients will be submitted to a high resolution computed tomography, to a pulmonary function test (spirometry), videofluoroscopy swallowing test, breathing and swallowing coordination and application of quality of life questionnaires (UW-QOL - Quality of life quality of the University of Washington, SGRQ - Saint George's Hospital Questionnaire in respiratory disease, HAD - Scale and depression symptoms and hospital MDADI - MD Anderson Dysphagia Inventory). (AU)