Welcome to OCF. I can give you some info. It will not be easy to make it very specific to your estranged spouse since their are limited details of his illness. Before I give you info let me start by saying everyone is different and will respond in their own way to procedures and medications, etc. So just because I may have experienced something does not mean another person will go thru it too. This is why I tend to give pretty general info.

Going thru a mandibulectomy is a difficult surgery to recover from. It can be a long and painful recovery. Some people bounce back quickly. Most people who go thru a mandibulectomy will be hospitalized for about 2 weeks. It can take up to a year to recover. The swelling will be pretty bad for the first 2 months, it will be up to a year for it to subside. Any reconstructive surgery will take place after a year. Doctors will make a patient wait until they have a full year of recovery before they will make any changes. Normally a mandibulectomy will require a feeding tube and also a trach. If the patient asks for a possey muir valve trach it will make it much easier to talk after the surgery. Dont be surprised if the patient is kept asleep for a few days after this major surgery.

Im sure it is very difficult for you to try to watch from the sidelines, especially without visiting. If the patient cant talk then they should have someone with them in the hospital always to advocate for them. Even when they go home, a visiting nurse should come at least weekly. A patient will need assistance with someone helping them by going to the pharmacy, grocery store and taking them to doctors appointments. After a couple weeks being home they should be able to resume driving again. If under heavy pain meds then they should not drive.

Best wishes for a fast and complete recovery!