How is a Glossectomy performed?

Glossectomy via transcervical pull-through is a technique that releases the tongue into the neck through the floor of the mouth by opening the sublingual and submental compartments. It provides inferior displacement of the tongue for improved visualization of the posterior tongue.

How long does glossectomy surgery take?

The operation itself takes approximately 1 hour. Will I have a scar? This operation will not leave you with a scar on your face, but will leave you with a scar on the area of your tongue that is affected.

Is glossectomy a major surgery?

A major glossectomy is an operation which removes a large part or all of the tongue. After this surgery your speech and swallowing may be severely affected. Generally, the more tongue that is taken out because of the tumour, the harder it will be to swallow and speak clearly.

What is the procedure of glossectomy?

A glossectomy is the surgery done to remove part of or all of the tongue. It can be used to treat cancers of the tongue, some oral cavity (inside the mouth) and throat cancers. The tongue's jobs include tasting, swallowing, breathing, licking and speaking. The tongue is about 3.1 to 3.3 inches in size.

What body part does a glossectomy remove?

What is a Total Glossectomy? It means the removal of all of your tongue. The area removed is replaced by a piece of skin and / or muscle (known as a 'flap') taken from another part of your body, such as the smooth side of your forearm. Your surgeon will explain exactly how this is done.

Open, Direct Midline Glossectomy w/ Narration - Dr. Michael Abidin

Can you speak after total glossectomy?

Some sounds are made using your lips, so you may be able to make sounds such as b, m, p, w after a glossectomy. When part of the tongue is removed, it can be hard to speak and be understood by others. People who have all of their tongue removed will need to write and/or use cue cards to help with communication.

How painful is tongue surgery?

Pain: While there is a significant amount of individual variability on pain perception, tongue base surgeries have as the main issue a significant amount of post-operative pain.

Is tracheostomy needed for glossectomy?

Glossectomy is a surgical procedure done to remove all or part of the tongue. Most often, glossectomy is followed by a procedure known as a tracheostomy. Glossectomy may initially cause a lot of swelling in the throat and block the respiratory passage. This can make breathing difficult.

How long does it take for your tongue to heal after a partial glossectomy?

If you have a small portion of your tongue removed you will be able to go home the same day or the morning after surgery. You will need to do good mouth care for 1 to 2 weeks after surgery.

Can you taste after partial glossectomy?

Eleven of the 24 patients were aware of their taste disorder after surgery. Four patients with more than 1/2 residual tongue base had no taste complaints, whereas seven of 14 patients with less than 1/3 residual tongue base reported taste abnormalities.

Can you speak if you have no tongue?

Despite being born without a tongue, I can speak and swallow and taste just like anyone else. I have the base of the tongue and the muscle on the floor of my mouth, which I can move up and down, but other than that, there's nothing there at all. Not all people with this condition are lucky enough to be able to talk.

Can you swallow after tongue surgery?

Due to the pain and difficulty swallowing, you will likely only be able to tolerate a liquid/soft diet (Ensure, Smoothies...) for the first few days after surgery. Make sure you have a good intake of fluids and avoid dehydration.

Who performs a glossectomy?

Essential personnel for this procedure includes the primary surgeon, 1 or 2 surgical assistants, a circulating/operating room nurse, a surgical technologist, and an anesthesiologist.

How long are you in the hospital after tongue surgery?

Patients are usually kept in the hospital for five to 10 days and can go home with family assistance and a nurse that checks in a few days a week. The tongue muscle is an important part of speaking and the swallowing mechanism.

How do they reconstruct a tongue?

Skin Grafts

Reconstructive surgeons can repair soft tissue in parts of the tongue, the lining of the mouth, and the lips using a portion of skin called a graft. Grafts may be taken from the abdomen or leg and used to repair small portions of the mucosa, which is the lining of the mouth.

What can you eat after partial glossectomy?

Resume diet beginning with clear liquids (Kool-aid, popsicles, water, sherbet, apple, grape juice, Jell-O, etc.) advancing to full liquids then soft foods then full diet. It's important to drink one to two quarts of fluid per day. Avoid extremely hot or cold liquids.

Do they put stitches in tongues?

Tongue wounds do not usually require stitching, but this can help large or wide wounds heal. To help a wound heal, a healthcare professional may use a piece of surgical thread, called suture, to stitch two edges of the wound together.

How do you clean your mouth after tongue surgery?

Maintain a Clean Mouth

Typically, you will be instructed to rinse your mouth out about four times a day with warm salt water, especially after you have eaten, to remove any food debris from your mouth.

How do you talk after removing your tongue?

People who have all of their tongue removed will need to write and/or use technology such as mobile devices (e.g., tablets, ipod) to help with communication. You will also learn gestures to help you speak. After you go home, you can have therapy with a Speech-Language Pathologist to help improve your speech.

How long does tongue reconstruction surgery take?

The tongue reconstruction took 10 minutes duration. The procedure performed by head and neck surgeon consultant. The patient showed uneventful post-operative recovery. Post-operative care included administration of analgesics and prophylactic antibiotics, antiseptic gargles, and nil per-oral for first 24 hours.

Can tongue grow back?

In some people, the papillae are lost only from the sides of the tongue, or the sides and tip. The papillae usually grow again but this can take a long time and, meanwhile, a new patch may form on another part of the tongue. As new papillae grow, the patch appears to move across the tongue.

Can you get a new tongue?

The world's first human tongue transplant has been successfully carried out by doctors in Austria. Surgeons at Vienna's General Hospital carried out the 14-hour operation on a 42-year-old patient on Saturday.

Can you taste after glossectomy?

Conclusion: Surprisingly the taste sensation of remaining tongue was reduced severely after the subtotal glossectomy. For the appetite and the nutrition, considering the taste sensation is very important.

What kind of doctor does tongue surgery?

An Ears, Nose, and Throat (ENT) surgeon or oral surgeon will perform a lingual frenectomy.

Can you eat with no tongue?

The function that your tongue brings to the table is quite impressive. Without your tongue, you wouldn't be able to: Speak. Eat.