Effectiveness of Chin-tuck Maneuver to Facilitate Swallowing in Neurologic Dysphagia

Introduction The chin-tuck maneuver is the most frequently employed postural maneuver in the treatment of neurogenic oropharyngeal dysphagia caused by encephalic vascular strokes and degenerative diseases. Objective The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of this maneuver in patients with neurogenic dysphagia and factors that could interfere in it. Methods In this retrospective cohort, we analyzed the medical files and videofluoroscopy exams of 35 patients (19male - 54% and 16 female - 46%; age range between 20 and 89 years old; mean = 69 years). Results The results suggest that the effectiveness of chin-tuck maneuver is related to the overall degree of dysphagia: the more severe the dysphagia, the less effective the maneuver. Conclusion Chin-tuck maneuver should benefit dysphagic patients with delay in the swallowing trigger, reduced laryngeal elevation, and difficulties to swallow liquids, but is not the best compensatory strategy for patients with severe dysphagia.

Estudo da mastigação e da deglutição em crianças e adolescentes com Sequência de Mõbius / Study of chewing and swallowing in children and teenagers with Mõbius syndrome

OBJETIVOS: Descrever as alterações morfofuncionais nas funções de mastigação e deglutição, reconhecer as consistências alimentares mais bem aceitas e avaliar a presença de manobras compensatórias durante a deglutição em crianças com Sequência de Mõbius. MÉTODOS: A casuística consistiu de oito crianças, sendo três do sexo feminino e cinco do sexo masculino, na faixa etária de cinco a 15 anos, diagnosticadas com Sequência de Mõbius. As crianças foram avaliadas em situação de alimentação, nas quais foram oferecidos alimentos de consistência líquida, pastosa e sólida. Os dados coletados foram registrados em protocolo de avaliação adaptado por Guedes, Shintani e Cabello (2003). RESULTADOS: Os resultados obtidos demonstraram significância entre a condição de mobilidade de língua e o tipo de mastigação. As variáveis velocidade de mastigação e contração do masseter, também se mostraram dependentes (p=0,018), uma vez que não houve alteração da velocidade da mastigação quando a contração do masseter estava presente. O pão de queijo mostrou-se como a melhor consistência sólida, pois produziu um bolo mais coeso e menos espalhado na cavidade oral. CONCLUSÕES: As alterações morfofuncionais presentes nos pacientes com Sequência de Mõbius contribuíram para a alteração da dinâmica da mastigação e deglutição. Toda a amostra fez uso de manobras compensatórias e, mesmo com a ausência dos sinais clínicos sugestivos de penetração/aspiração, estes pacientes devem ser submetidos à terapia fonoaudiológica, a fim de adequar os órgãos fonoarticulatórios na tentativa de proporcionar uma refeição mais prazerosa.

PURPOSE: To describe morphofunctional alterations in the functions of chewing and deglutition, to recognize the most accepted food consistency, and to evaluate the presence of compensatory maneuvers during deglutition, in children and adolescents with Mõbius syndrome. METHODS: The subjects were eight children (three female and five male), with ages ranging from five to 15 years, diagnosed with Mõbius syndrome. The children were evaluated during a feeding situation, where they were offered food with different consistencies: liquid, pasty and solid. Data were registered in an evaluation protocol adapted by Guedes, Shintani and Cabello (2003). RESULTS: Results showed a significant relation between tongue mobility condition and type of mastication. The variables speed of mastication and contraction of the masseter muscle were also dependents (p=0018), since there was no change in the speed of mastication when the contraction of the masseter was present. The cheese bread was the best solid consistency food for evaluation, because it produced a more cohesive and less widespread mass in the oral cavity. CONCLUSIONS: The morphofunctional alterations found in patients with Mõbius syndrome contributed to change the dynamics of chewing and swallowing. All subjects in the sample used compensatory maneuvers. Therefore, even in the absence of clinical signs that suggest penetration/aspiration, patients with such diagnosis should be referred to speech therapy, in order to provide adequate conditions for a more pleasant meal.