Peri-Treatment Evaluation of Swallowing in Head and Neck Cancer Patients

Head and neck cancer patients are prone to dysphagia and aspiration, which are usually neglected due to treatment of the cancer itself. However, dysphagia and aspiration could cause malnutrition, dehydration, pneumonia, and moreover, have negative impact on the quality of life, morbidity, and mortality. Due to its multifactorial etiology, thorough clinical and instrumental evaluation are necessary. In managing head and neck cancer patients, it has become very important to identify the possibility of dysphagia and aspiration, and to start management as early as possible.

Screening protocol for dysphagia in adults: comparison with videofluoroscopic findings

OBJECTIVES: To compare the videofluoroscopic findings of patients with suspected oropharyngeal dysphagia with the results of a clinical screening protocol. METHODS: A retrospective observational cohort study was conducted on all consecutive patients with suspected oropharyngeal dysphagia between March 2015 and February 2016 who were assigned to receive a videofluoroscopic assessment of swallowing. All patients were first submitted to videofluoroscopy and then to the clinical assessment of swallowing. The clinical assessment was performed within the first 24 hours after videofluoroscopy. The videofluoroscopy results were analyzed regarding penetration/aspiration using an 8-point multidimensional perceptual scale. The accuracy of the clinical protocol was analyzed using the sensitivity, specificity, likelihood ratios and predictive values. RESULTS: The selected sample consisted of 50 patients. The clinical protocol presented a sensitivity of 50% and specificity of 95%, with an accuracy of 88%. "Cough" and "wet-hoarse" vocal quality after/during swallowing were clinical indicators that appeared to correctly identify the presence of penetration/aspiration risk. CONCLUSION: The clinical protocol used in the present study is a simple, rapid and reliable clinical assessment. Despite the absence of a completely satisfactory result, especially in terms of the sensitivity and positive predictive values, we suggest that lower rates of pneumonia can be achieved using a formal dysphagia screening method.

Analysis of Dysphagia Patterns Using a Modified Barium Swallowing Test Following Treatment of Head and Neck Cancer

PURPOSE: The purposes of this study were to evaluate specific dysphagia patterns and to identify the factors affecting dysphagia, especially aspiration, following treatment of head and neck cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 57 patients was performed. Dysphagia was evaluated using a modified barium swallow (MBS) test. The MBS results were rated on the 8-point penetration-aspiration scale (PAS) and swallowing performance status (SPS) score. RESULTS: Reduced base of the tongue (BOT) retraction (64.9%), reduced laryngeal elevation (57.9%), and cricopharyngeus (CP) dysfunction (47.4%) were found. Reduced BOT retraction was correlated with clinical stage (p=0.011) and treatment modality (p=0.001). Aspiration in 42.1% and penetration in 33.3% of patients were observed. Twenty-four patients had PAS values over 6, implying aspiration. Forty-one patients had a SPS score of more than 3, 25 patients had a score greater than 5, and 13 patients had a SPS score of more than 7. Aspiration was found more often in patients with penetration (p=0.002) and in older patients (p=0.026). In older patients, abnormal swallowing caused aspiration even in those with a SPS score of more than 3, irrespective of stage or treatment, contrary to younger patients. Tube feeders (n=20) exhibited older age (65.0%), dysphagia/aspiration related structures (DARS) primaries (75.0%), higher stage disease (66.7%), and a history of radiotherapy (68.8%). CONCLUSION: Reduced BOT retraction was the most common dysphagia pattern and was correlated with clinical stage and treatment regimens including radiotherapy. Aspiration was more frequent in patients who had penetration and in older patients. In contrast to younger patients, older patients showed greater risk of aspiration even with a single abnormal swallowing irrespective of stage or treatment.

Diet Modification Based on Video Fluoroscopic Swallowing Study/Modified Barium Swallow in Dysphagia (review) / 中国康复理论与实践

@#Diet modification is a common and important approach for dysphagia rehabilitation. Categories of foods/liquids, suitable volumes per swallow, and effective methods of posture adjustment can be selected through Video Fluoroscopic Swallowing Study (VFSS)/Modified Barium Swallow (MBS), to determine a safe and valid strategy of diet modification. Diet modification based on VFSS/MBS will ensure eating ability and promote swallowing function in dysphagia patients to the greatest extent.

Diet Modification Based on Video Fluoroscopic Swallowing Study/Modified Barium Swallow in Dysphagia (review) / 中国康复理论与实践

@#Diet modification is a common and important approach for dysphagia rehabilitation. Categories of foods/liquids, suitable volumes per swallow, and effective methods of posture adjustment can be selected through Video Fluoroscopic Swallowing Study (VFSS)/Modified Barium Swallow (MBS), to determine a safe and valid strategy of diet modification. Diet modification based on VFSS/MBS will ensure eating ability and promote swallowing function in dysphagia patients to the greatest extent.

Evaluation of the Swallowing after Supracricoid Partial Laryngectomy with Modified Barium Swallow / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Supracricoid partial laryngectomy is popular due to its satisfactory oncological and functional outcomes in selected laryngeal cancers. Their postoperative management is now well codified, but functional failures still persist. The aims of this study were to analyze the deglutition modification induced by these intervention and to plan a better rehabilitation program of swallowing. MATERIALS AND METHOD: For the evaluation of swallowing function, the swallowing analysis was performed by following the videofluoroscopic evaluation using the modified barium swallow (Logemann, 1983) in 14 laryngeal cancer patients. RESULTS: Asymptomatic aspiration was observed in 4 patients (28.6%), especially in patients with the extended procedures (p=0.032) and delayed decannulation (p=0.035). Aspiration was associated with faulty backward tilting of epiglottis and inadequate movement of the base of tongue (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In planning the swallowing rehabilitation program after supracricoid partial laryngectomy, recuperation of proper epiglottic movement, which is promoted by exercise of backward tongue movement, is the most important concern.

The Safety of Videofluoroscopic Swallowing Study (VFSS)

OBJECTIVE: The risk of barium aspiration has been reported through animal and clinical studies. Although the barium aspiration occurs frequently during videofluoroscopic barium swallowing study (VFSS) that is used in a standard method for diagnosis of dysphagia, there has been no research about the risk of VFSS. METHOD: One hundred VFSS of sixty nine patients were analyzed prospectively. The patients were diagnosed to dysphagia clinically. VFSS findings were classified into 5 groups according to the severity of aspiration. The incidences of complications, such as fever (>38.3oC), leukocytosis (>10,000), dyspnea and abnormality of chest roentgenogram within 24hours after VFSS were determined in each group. Odds ratios of complications after VFSS for severity of their findings were calculated. RESULTS: The complications of VFSS are as follows; five febrile conditions, three leukocytosis and three dyspnea among 100 VFSS cases. Odds ratios for complications were over 1 except for the abnormality of chest roentgenogram, but which was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: The incidence of complication after VFSS was 5% in dysphagic patients. But the severity of complication was mild and there was no statistical significance between complication and aspiration on VFSS, so VFSS was a relatively safe procedure.

The Functional Dysphagia Scale Using Videofluoroscopic Swallowing Study in Stroke Patients

OBJECTIVE: Early detection and identification of the aspiration in stroke patients are essential for the prevention of respiratory complications. The purpose of this study is to develop a simple, easy-to-use, quantifiable functional dysphagia scale for stroke patients using videofluoroscopic swallowing study findings. METHOD: Oral and pharyngeal videofluoroscopic swallowing study findings of a consecutive series of 103 stroke patients were analysed. Items of the functional dysphagia scale were determined by the polychotomous linear logistic regression analysis between videofluoroscopic findings and aspiration. The sensitivity and specificity of the scale, and correlation between the total score of the scale and aspiration grade were measured. RESULTS: The final scale included the following eleven items; The score of lip closure, bolus formation, residue in oral cavity, oral transit time, triggering of pharyngeal swallow, laryngeal elevation and epiglottic closure, nasal penetration, residue in valleculae, coating of pharyngeal wall after swallow, pharyngeal transit time. The sensitivity and specificity of the scale for detecting supraglottic penetration and subglottic aspiration were 81.0%, 70.7% and 78.1%, 77.9% respectively. The total score of the scale was significantly correlated with the severity of aspiration. (Spermann correlation coefficient r=0.58943, p=0.00001). CONCLUSION: We developed functional dysphagia scale using videofluoroscopic swallowing study in stroke patients, which could be used as a simple, easy-to-use, quantifiable method to evaluate the severity of the dysphagia.

A Case of Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis with Dysphagia / 대한이비인후과학회지

Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) is an idiopathic, ossifying diathesis characterized by ossification and thickening at the site of attachment of a ligament or tendon to bone. Although DISH generally affects the lumbar spine, any segment of the spine may be involved. When cervical spine is affected, the extensive cervical spine osteophytes may produce dysphagia and laryngeal symptoms such as hoarseness, dysphonia, and dyspnea etc. We report a DISH patient with dysphagia as a presenting complaint. Plain radiographs and modified barium swallow (MBS) study demonstrated narrowing of esophagus due to severe cervical vertebral osteophytes. Anterior cervical decompression relieved dysphagia and restored esophageal function without major complications.

Prognostic Indicators in Dysphagia Recovery

The purpose of the study was to find prognostic indicators of dysphagia recovery after stroke. 26 dysphagic patients with history of aspiration divided into two groups, oral feeding group and persisting aspirating group(c ontinue tube feeding after acute stage of stroke rehabilitation). We evaluated the neurologic locus of stroke lesion. Functional Independence Measure(FIM) score, parameters of the bedside swallowing test and videofluoroscopic modified barium swallow. The neurologic locus of stroke lesion was not correlate with the recovery of aspiration due to stoke. The low FIM score(less than 50), large amount of pharyngeal residue, decreased clearing ability of residue, and delayed pharyngeal transit time(over 3 sec) were bad prognostic indicators of dysphagia recovery. We may use criteria for recommendation of continuous tube feeding especially, Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy(PEG) in dysphagic patients after stroke.