[The usefulness of the water swallowing test and videofluorography in swallowing rehabilitation in patients with cerebrovascular disease].

It has been suggested that videofluorography (VF) is useful in the diagnosis of aspiration. The aim of this study was to investigate the usefulness of the water swallowing test and VF in swallowing rehabilitation in patients with cerebrovascular disease. Fifteen patients (mean age 72.9 +/- 2.3 years) were examined. The swallowing abnormality was assessed by the water swallowing test and VF. Patients with abnormal swallowing function on the water swallowing test (Group A, n = 4) showed aspiration and silent aspiration into the trachea on VF. However, patients suspected of dysphagia on the water swallowing test (Group B, n = 11) could swallow, demonstrating the disappearance of silent aspiration, with pooling of barium in the piriform sinus on VF. All patients in Group A could not ingest any food by mouth and received percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy or intermittent oro-esophageal tube feeding. The swallowing function in Group B improved after swallowing rehabilitation. All patients in Group B could ingest food by mouth. These findings suggest that the water swallowing test is useful for quantitative assessment of swallowing disorder and for deciding on therapy of swallowing function.

[A case of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) followed by pulmonary rehabilition].

We report a 75-year-old woman with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) suffering from cough, sputum, high-grade fever and dyspnea on effort. Her chest radiograph revealed an infiltrative shadow in the right lower lung field and her laboratory data showed marked inflammatory changes. Her arterial blood gas analysis showed marked hypoxemia and hypercapnia. After her laboratory data and general condition improved, we performed pulmonary rehabilitation for the patient for about 6 weeks. The program consisted of pursed lip breathing, diaphragmatic breathing, muscle stretch gymnastics, and walking. The 6-minute walking test distance increased from 170 m to 280 m. The minimum SpO2 during the 6-minute walking test increased from 88% to 91%. (O2 3 L/m) After discharge, she continued to receive home care from a visiting nurse specialized in respiratory medicine and 24 hour-monitoring of O2-compliance at home. She has not experienced acute exacerbation or re-hospitalization for 1 year. We conclude that home care service is effective to maintain stable conditions such as state of breathing, SpO2, vital signs, and activities of daily living for elderly COPD outpatients.