Investigation of the Swallowing Parameters Related to the Aspiration Risk in the Elderly over 65 Years Old

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: To investigate the swallowing parameters which are related to the subglottic aspiration or supraglottic penetration when 2 cc or 5cc fluid swallowing through the fluoroscopic study METHODS: Fluoroscopic studies (2 cc or 5 cc barium-diluted fluid study) were done in 107 patients clinically suspicious of aspiration. Six oral/pharyngeal parameters (drooling, oral hesitancy, premature bolus loss, delayed epiglottic closure, vallecular residue and pyriform sinus residue) were analyzed whether correlated with the aspiration or penetration. They were also analyzed whether to have the correlation between each other. RESULTS: Degree of pyriform sinus residue and delayed epiglottic closure were correlated with the aspiration (p<0.05). No swallowing parameters had correlation with each other except the relation between the premature bolus loss and the pyriform sinus residue. CONCLUSION: Pyriform sinus residue and delayed epiglottic closure were important parameters to correlate with the aspiration risk in the elderly suspicious of aspiration. They can also be used to judge the aspiration risk when an elderly person swallow the food material.