Glossectomy Care

Your doctor may do the following:

• Blood work
• Physical exam
• Ask about your medical history, including whether you smoke or drink alcohol
• Biopsy of the tongue-a piece of tongue is removed and sent to a lab for testing to diagnose cancer
• X-ray or CT scan of the chest-tests that take a picture of structures inside the chest
• CT scan of the mouth and neck -a type of x-ray that uses a computer to make pictures of structures inside the body

Leading up to the surgery:

• Talk to your doctor about your medicines. You may be asked to stop taking some medicines up to one week before the procedure, like:
  • Anti-inflammatory drugs (eg, aspirin )
  • Blood thinners, such as clopidogrel (Plavix) or warfarin (Coumadin)
• Arrange for a ride to and from the hospital.
• Eat a light meal the night before. Do not eat or drink anything after midnight.
• If you have diabetes, ask your doctor if you need to adjust your medicines.

General anesthesia will be used. It will block any pain and keep you asleep through the surgery.

If part of the tongue needs to be removed, the doctor will remove this cancerous section. The remaining area of the tongue will be sewn so that there is no hole. Sometimes, a small graft of skin will be used to fill the hole. This skin graft will then be sewn into place.

If the entire tongue needs to be removed, this is a more complicated surgery. The doctor will remove the diseased tongue. A piece of skin from your wrist will also be removed. This skin graft will be placed in the hole left by the tongue. Blood vessels will also be attached from any remaining tongue to the graft. This is to ensure blood flow. Sometimes the lymph nodes in the neck will also need to be removed.

Several hours

Anesthesia will prevent pain during the surgery. You will have pain during recovery. Ask your doctor about medicine to help with the pain.

7-10 days

While recovering at the hospital, you may receive the following care:

• Oxygen through prongs attached to your nose for the first 1-2 days
• Nutrition through a tube-Once you are able to swallow, you will be able to have drinks and pureed food. If a total glossectomy is done, you may need a permanent feeding tube in the stomach.
• Fluids and medicines will be given through an IV
• Special boots or sock to help prevent blood clots-You will also be encouraged to get out of bed as soon as possible.
• Instructions to breathe deeply and cough 10-20 times every hour (for the first few days)-This will decrease the risk of pneumonia .

In addition, your doctor may have you:

• Work with a speech therapist to learn to speak and swallow after surgery
• Begin radiation therapy to treat the cancer if it had not been given before

When you return home, do the following to help ensure a smooth recovery:

• Gargle several times a day to prevent infection.
• Take antibiotics as prescribed.
• Take pain medicine to ease discomfort.
• Slowly resume your normal diet.
• Continue to work with a speech therapist.
• Be sure to follow your doctor's instructions.