ABSTRACT
Objective:To explore the effect of the pharyngeal pressure feedback training on pharyngeal constriction in persons with swallowing disorders caused by brainstem lesions.Methods:Twenty patients with disordered swallowing caused by a brainstem lesion were randomly divided into a control group and an intervention group, each of 10. Both groups received routine swallowing training including oral sensorimotor training, neuromuscular stimulation and balloon catheter dilation, while the intervention group was additionally provided with two weeks of pharyngeal pressure feedback training. Before and after the treatment, both groups were evaluated in terms of the peak pressure of superior and inferior pharyngeal constriction, endoscopically and also using the functional oral intake scale.Results:There was no significant difference between the two groups in any measure before the intervention. Afterward, both groups had improved significantly by all of the measurements, but the average peak upper pharyngeal pressure, the average intake scale score and the endoscopy results of the intervention group were all significantly better than the control group′s averages.Conclusions:Pharyngeal pressure feedback training can significantly relieve swallowing disorders caused by brainstem lesions.
ABSTRACT
Objective@#To evaluate the motility of the esophagus while swallowing of brainstem stroke survivors.@*Methods@#Eighteen patients and 10 healthy subjects were included in the study. There was no significant difference in average age, gender, weight or body mass index between the two groups. All underwent high-resolution esophageal manometry to assess esophageal motility while swallowing, and they were rated using the version 3.0 of the Chicago classification.@*Results@#Fourteen of the 18 stroke survivors displayed abnormal esophageal dynamics (77.8%), compared with only 10.0% of the healthy control group, but that difference was not statistically significant. The typical abnormalities were a lack of contraction, high pressure contractile esophagus, gastroesophageal junction outflow obstruction and/or distal esophageal spasm. Compared with the control group, the average resting pressure of the patients′ upper esophageal sphincters (UESs) was significantly lower, while the UES residual pressure and integrated relaxation pressure of their lower esophageal sphincters (LESs) were higher and the average UES relaxation time was significantly shorter. No significant differences were found in the LES resting pressures, distal contractile integrals or the distal latency between the two groups.@*Conclusions@#Abnormal esophageal motility is highly prevalent in brainstem stroke survivors and due attention should be paid to it. High-resolution manometry can be used to assess this condition.
ABSTRACT
Objective:To explore the value of flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) in guiding the decannulation of neurological disease patients with dysphagia after a tracheotomy.Methods:The FEES results of 188 neurological disease patients with dysphagia who had undergone a tracheotomy were analyzed retrospectively. The utility of FEES evaluation indexes (including glottis activity, the classification of pharyngeal secretions and residues as well as penetration-aspiration grade) for predicting the success of decannulation was explored.Results:One hundred and nine of the patients (the success group) were decannulated successfully and 79 (the failure group) were not, a success rate of 57%. The abnormal glottis activity rate among the failure group was 55%, significantly higher than among the success group (21%). The pharyngeal secretion classifications and penetration-aspiration grades among the success group were also significantly lower than among the failure group, on average. The average course of recovery from the tracheotomy was 184 days in the success group, significantly shorter than that of the failure group (292 days). No significant differences in residues were observed.Conclusion:The glottis activity, secretions and intake aspiration evaluated using FEES are of great value for guiding the decannulation of neurological disease patients with dysphagia after a tracheotomy.
ABSTRACT
Objective:To explore the effect of high-flow airway humidification on aspiration and residues in cases of dysphagia after a tracheotomy.Methods:Seventeen persons with dysphagia after a tracheotomy were asked to swallow 5ml of a thick liquid when their tracheal cannula was either connected to a high-flow airway humidification system or blocked, or the cuff was empty or full. Endoscopic evaluation was then used to grade the residue and aspiration in the different conditions.Results:There were significant differences in the residuals grading and aspiration among the four conditions. The average penetration-aspiration scale grade was significantly lower when the subject was connected to high-flow airway humidification than in the other three conditions. The grade of residuals was also significantly lower.Conclusion:High-flow airway humidification can effectively improve the swallowing of persons with dysphagia after a tracheotomy.
ABSTRACT
Objective:To evaluate the motility of the esophagus while swallowing of brainstem stroke survivors.Methods:Eighteen patients and 10 healthy subjects were included in the study. There was no significant difference in average age, gender, weight or body mass index between the two groups. All underwent high-resolution esophageal manometry to assess esophageal motility while swallowing, and they were rated using the version 3.0 of the Chicago classification.Results:Fourteen of the 18 stroke survivors displayed abnormal esophageal dynamics (77.8%), compared with only 10.0% of the healthy control group, but that difference was not statistically significant. The typical abnormalities were a lack of contraction, high pressure contractile esophagus, gastroesophageal junction outflow obstruction and/or distal esophageal spasm. Compared with the control group, the average resting pressure of the patients′ upper esophageal sphincters (UESs) was significantly lower, while the UES residual pressure and integrated relaxation pressure of their lower esophageal sphincters (LESs) were higher and the average UES relaxation time was significantly shorter. No significant differences were found in the LES resting pressures, distal contractile integrals or the distal latency between the two groups.Conclusions:Abnormal esophageal motility is highly prevalent in brainstem stroke survivors and due attention should be paid to it. High-resolution manometry can be used to assess this condition.