Introduction: Acoustic Neuroma (AN) is a major neurosurgical entity. Despite the fact that the peripheral facial paralysis (PFP) is most studied, deglutition disorders are frequently found in daily practice and less studied. Our objective is to describe swallowing disorders in the long-term postoperative period of AN surgery and evaluate variables involved.

Methods: A cohort study, with partial retrospective data collection, analyzed the incidence of functional deficits at the outpatient skull base tumors clinics

Results: The total number of patients was 101, 78 (77.2%) were women, and 23 (22.8%) were men. The mean age was 47.1 (± 16.0) years and the mean tumor size 3.4cm. There was an association between tumor size (p <0.001), total resection (p <0.001) and neurofibromatosis type II (p <0.001) with deglutition deficits in the long-term follow-up. We also found a statistically significant correlation (p <0.001) in the occurrence of dysphagia and postoperative PFP in 100% of the cases.

Conclusions: Some degree of dysphagia is to be expected in AN surgery, in oral oropharyngeal and pharyngeal phases of the deglutition process. The identified risk factors for the persistence of dysphagia were PFP, tumor size and NF II. The increased awareness of dysphagia and the performance of a speech specialist may optimise oral intake, reduce health risks, decrease hospital stay and increase the quality of life of these subjects using specific rehabilitation programs.

Patient Care: Identifying the risk factors for dysphagia after acoustic neuromas surgery

Learning Objectives: By the conclusion of this session, participants should be able to identify the importance of dysphagia after acoustic neuromas surgery

References: Morton RP, Ackerman PD, Pisansky MT, Prognostic factors for the incidence and recovery of delayed facial nerve palsy after vestibular schwannoma resection. J Neurosurg. 2011;114:375-380. Ennings K, Siroky D, Jackson C. Swallowing problems after excision of tumors of the skull base: diagnosis and management in 12 Patients. Dysphagia. 1992;7:40-44