The Burke dysphagia screening test: validation of its use in patients with stroke.

The objective of this study was to validate a dysphagia screening test to identify patients in the rehabilitation phase post stroke at risk for pneumonia, recurrent upper airway obstruction, and death. The setting was an inpatient stroke rehabilitation unit. One hundred thirty-nine consecutive patients met the following criteria: stroke confirmed by clinical history and neurological exam with compatible computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan; ages 20 to 90 years inclusive; and no known history of significant oral or pharyngeal anomaly. The main outcome measures were pneumonia, recurrent upper airway obstruction, and death. The Burke Dysphagia Screening Test (BDST) identified 11 of 12 patients who subsequently developed pneumonia, recurrent upper airway obstruction, or death (Fisher's exact test: p = .03). The relative risk for the occurrence of any of these complications was 7.65 times greater for those failing versus passing the BDST. The BDST identified 9 of 9 patients who developed pneumonia (Fisher's exact test: p = .01). We concluded that the BDST is of value in identifying patients in the rehabilitation phase poststroke at risk for pneumonia, recurrent upper airway obstruction, and death.

Aspiration and relative risk of medical complications following stroke.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the relative risk of pneumonia, dehydration, and death associated with videofluoroscopic evidence of aspiration, silent aspiration, aspiration of 10% or greater on one or more barium test swallows, and aspiration of thick liquid or more solid consistencies in the subacute phase after stroke. DESIGN: Prospective, longitudinal cohort study. SETTING: Inpatient stroke rehabilitation unit. PATIENTS: There were 114 consecutive patients who met the following criteria: (1) stroke as defined by clinical history and neurological examination with compatible computed tomographic or magnetic resonance imaging scan; (2) age 20 to 90 years, inclusive; (3) no known history of significant oropharyngeal anomaly; and (4) videofluoroscopic evidence of dysphagia. Of 122 eligible patients, eight refused participation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Development of pneumonia, dehydration, and death. RESULTS: The relative risk for developing pneumonia was 6.95 times greater (P = .027) for those patients who aspirated compared with those who did not, 5.57 times greater (P = .012) for those who aspirated silently compared with those who coughed when aspirating or who did not aspirate, and 8.36 times greater (P = .002) for those who aspirated 10% or greater on one or more barium test swallows compared with those who aspirated less than 10% or did not aspirate. CONCLUSION: Aspiration, silent aspiration, and aspiration of 10% or greater on one or more barium test swallows during videofluoroscopic evaluation are associated with an increased risk of pneumonia, but not dehydration or death, during the subacute phase after stroke.

Dysphagia therapy following stroke: a controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of graded levels of intervention by a dysphagia therapist on the occurrence of pneumonia, dehydration, calorie-nitrogen deficit, recurrent upper airway obstruction, and death following stroke. DESIGN: A randomized control trial. SETTING: Inpatient stroke rehabilitation unit. PATIENTS: All patients met the following eligibility criteria: (1) stroke defined by clinical history and neurologic examination with compatible CT or MRI, (2) ages 20 to 90 years inclusive, (3) no known history of significant oral or pharyngeal anomaly, (4) laboratory values below end point criteria, (5) failure on the Burke Dysphagia Screening Test, and (6) modified barium swallow evaluation evidence of dysphagia (patients who aspirated > or = 50% of all consistencies presented, even using compensatory swallowing techniques, were excluded). Of 123 eligible patients, eight refused study participation. One hundred fifteen patients were randomized. INTERVENTIONS: Three graded levels of dysphagia therapist control of diet consistency and reinforcement of compensatory swallowing techniques were provided during the inpatient rehabilitation stay. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Pneumonia, dehydration, calorie-nitrogen deficit, recurrent upper airway obstruction, and death. RESULTS: The log rank statistic showed no significant difference between the three treatment groups for the distribution of time until end point during the inpatient stay or to 1 year post-stroke. CONCLUSION: Limited patient and family instruction regarding use of diet modification and compensatory swallowing techniques during inpatient rehabilitation is as effective as therapist control of diet consistency and daily rehearsal of compensatory swallowing techniques for the prevention of medical complications associated with dysphagia following stroke.

Validation of the 3-oz water swallow test for aspiration following stroke.

A 3-oz water swallow test identified 80% (16/20) of patients aspirating during a subsequent videofluoroscopic modified barium swallow examination (sensitivity, 76%; specificity, 59%). It also identified patients with more severe dysphagia aspirating larger amounts (sensitivity, 94%; specificity, 26%) or thicker consistencies (sensitivity, 94%; specificity, 30%) of test material. The 3-oz water swallow test is a sensitive screening tool for identifying patients at risk for clinically significant aspiration who need referral for more definitive modified barium swallow evaluation.