Purpose: Surgical treatment of oral cavity neoplasms consists of the resection of tumor surrounded by a healthy tissue margin. The removal of tissues leads to breathing disturbances. Apnea episodes cause a drop in the arterial blood saturation with oxygen. This study was designed to qualitatively and quantitatively evaluate breathing disturbances and dyspnoea after resection of oral cavity structures, throat structures and muscles of the neck.
Material and methods: For this purpose, spirometry and pulsoximetry were done. Breathing disorders in sleeping patients were also examined. We enrolled 50 persons after surgery and divided them into three groups according to the type of resected structures: lateral part of the mandible; mental part of the mandible; part of the tongue.
Conclusions: The following conclusions were drawn: 1) Operations in the oral cavity in spite of reconstructions result in breathing disturbances. 2) Spirometry and pulsoximetry are useful for the study of breathing disturbances. 3) Static and dynamic values of key spirometric parameters were reduced in the patients; 4) Deterioration of blood saturation during sleep in patients after operations confirms breathing disorders.