Margareta Bülow

Purpose:To study survival in two groups of dysphagic patients – one group unable to elicit the pharyngeal stage of swallow (APS) and another group with pharyngeal swallow (WPS) – and to compare recommendations regarding nutrition and therapeutic strategies based on the therapeutic swallowing study. Material and Methods: In this retrospective study, the records of dysphagic patients who have undergone a therapeutic videoradiographic swallowing study (TVSS) were reviewed. Forty patients without pharyngeal swallow were matched for age and gender with 40 patients with pharyngeal swallow; altogether 80 patients were included in the study. Survival was registered at 3, 12, and 72 months after the TVSS. Results: In this study, the APS group had a significantly shorter survival time ( P = 0.0030) compared to the WPS group when followed‐up at 12 months. In the APS group, most patients (37.5% (15/40)) died within the 3 months after TVSS. At 72 months, 62.5% (25/40) of the patients in the APS group had died. In the WPS group, 5% (2/40) had died within 3 months and 47.4% (19/40) after 12 months. At 72 months, 52.5% (21/40) of the patients in the WPS group had died. Regarding nutritional and therapeutic recommendations based on TVSS, 34/40 in the APS group were recommended no oral intake. Eighteen naso‐gastric tubes were placed directly after TVSS. The therapeutic strategies recommended were head‐positioning, thermal tactile stimulation, and tongue exercises (in 8 patients). In the WPS group, all patients were recommended oral intake. Diet modification was recommended in 29 patients. The therapeutic strategies recommended were head‐positioning, thermal tactile stimulation, tongue exercises, supraglottic swallow, and effortful swallow (in 24 patients). Conclusion: Patients unable to elicit the pharyngeal stage of swallow had a shorter survival time than patients with pharyngeal swallow, probably due to a more severe underlying disease. Tube feeding was more frequent in the APS group. Fewer therapeutic strategies were recommended compared to the WPS group. In the WPS group, diet modification was frequent. Several patients had different therapeutic strategies. At the end of the study, 8/40 patients (20%) in the APS group had recovered and regained the ability to elicit the pharyngeal stage of swallow. All eight had achieved active swallowing rehabilitation.

Purpose: To analyze how carbonated thin liquids affected the physiology of swallowing in dysphagic patients. Material and Methods: 40 patients were analyzed; 36 were neurologically impaired. During a therapeutic videoradiographic swallowing examination the patients had to swallow liquids with the following consistencies three times: thin, thickened and carbonated. The liquids were given in doses of 3 × 5 ml. The swallows were analyzed regarding penetration/aspiration, pharyngeal transit time and pharyngeal retention. Results: Significant difference was found regarding penetration/aspiration when comparisons were made between thin liquid and carbonated thin liquid ( p<0.0001). Carbonated liquid reduced the penetration to the airways. The comparison between thin liquid and thickened liquid ( p<0.0001) showed significant less penetration with thickened liquids. Pharyngeal transit time was reduced both when comparing thin liquid with thin carbonated liquid ( p<0.0001) and thickened liquid ( p<0.0001). Pharyngeal retention was significantly reduced ( p<0.0001) with carbonated thin liquid compared to thickened liquid. The comparison of thin liquids and carbonated thin liquids showed p = 0.0013, thin and thickened liquids p = 0.0097. Conclusions: Carbonated liquids reduced penetration/aspiration into the airways, reduced pharyngeal retention and pharyngeal transit time became shorter. Therefore, carbonated liquids are a valuable treatment option for patients with penetration/aspiration. Thickened liquids may still be an option for patients who cannot tolerate carbonated liquids and liquids with this consistency are safer than thin liquids.

To analyze how carbonated thin liquids affected the physiology of swallowing in dysphagic patients. 40 patients were analyzed; 36 were neurologically impaired. During a therapeutic videoradiographic swallowing examination the patients had to swallow liquids with the following consistencies three times: thin, thickened and carbonated. The liquids were given in doses of 3 x 5 ml. The swallows were analyzed regarding penetration/aspiration, pharyngeal transit time and pharyngeal retention. Significant difference was found regarding penetration/aspiration when comparisons were made between thin liquid and carbonated thin liquid (p<0.0001). Carbonated liquid reduced the penetration to the airways. The comparison between thin liquid and thickened liquid (p<0.0001) showed significant less penetration with thickened liquids. Pharyngeal transit time was reduced both when comparing thin liquid with thin carbonated liquid (p<0.0001) and thickened liquid (p<0.0001). Pharyngeal retention was significantly reduced (p<0.0001) with carbonated thin liquid compared to thickened liquid. The comparison of thin liquids and carbonated thin liquids showed p=0.0013, thin and thickened liquids p=0.0097. Carbonated liquids reduced penetration/aspiration into the airways, reduced pharyngeal retention and pharyngeal transit time became shorter. Therefore, carbonated liquids are a valuable treatment option for patients with penetration/aspiration. Thickened liquids may still be an option for patients who cannot tolerate carbonated liquids and liquids with this consistency are safer than thin liquids.

Simultaneous videoradiography and solid-state manometry (videomanometry) were performed in 8 patients (4 women, 4 men; age range = 46–81 years, mean age = 70 years) with pharyngeal dysfunction in order to disclose any changes in intrabolus pressure during swallowing maneuvers. Five of the patients had severe pharyngeal dysfunction with frequent misdirected swallows. Three of the patients had moderate pharyngeal dysfunction with delayed initiation of pharyngeal swallow. Three different swallowing techniques were applied: supraglottic swallow, effortful swallow, and chin tuck. Pharyngeal intrabolus pressure was analyzed at the level of the inferior pharyngeal constrictor. Supraglottic swallow, effortful swallow, and chin tuck did not alter peak amplitude or duration of the intrabolus pressure.

Simultaneous videoradiography and solid-state manometry (videomanometry) was performed in 8 patients (4 women, 4 men; age range = 46-81 years, mean age = 70 years) with pharyngeal dysfunction. Five patients had severe pharyngeal dysfunction with frequent misdirected swallows. Three patients had moderate pharyngeal dysfunction with delayed initiation of pharyngeal swallow. Three different swallowing techniques were used: supraglottic swallow, effortful swallow, and chin tuck. Ten video radiographic variables and six manometric variables were analyzed. Contrast media penetration to the airways was analyzed regarding number of events and level of penetration. Supraglottic swallow, effortful swallow, and chin tuck did not reduce the number of misdirected swallows, but effortful swallow and chin tuck significantly (p = 0.008) reduced the depth of contrast penetration into the larynx and trachea. There was no significant improvement of pharyngeal retention. Chin tuck reduced the distance between the thyroid and the hyoid and the distance between the mandible and the hyoid. No other measured variable was significantly altered. This study shows that none of the different swallowing techniques reduced the number of misdirected swallows. However, there was a significantly reduced depth of the misdirected swallows. The swallowing techniques did not seem to prevent the occurrence of retention or improve weak pharyngeal constrictor muscles in this group of patients with severe to moderate dysfunction.