Application of agar thickener in dysphagia after radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma / 中华物理医学与康复杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To compare a new agar thickener with xanthan gum as a thickener in treating dyspha-gia patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma after radiotherapy. Methods Twenty nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients with dysphagia after radiotherapy were asked to swallow moderately and extremely thick liquids thickened with the agar and xanthan gum, and their swallowing was recorded with a videofluoroscope. Results The average pharyngeal con-striction ratio when swallowing agar thickener was significantly lower than when swallowing the traditional thickener. The average oral transit time, the initiation of pharyngeal swallowing were both significantly quicker. There was no sig-nificant difference in the average penetration aspiration scale scores between the two thickeners. In the subjective eval-uation, the agar thickener was adjudged smoother and with better residual mouthfeel than the xanthan gum, but the scent of the xanthan gum was preferred. Conclusion The new agar thickener is smooth and not sticky. It produces faster transport with less oropharyngeal residue. It can be widely used among nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients with dysphagia after radiotherapy.