Findings of a videofluoroscopic swallowing study in patients with dysphagia

Qingjia Cui; Bing Wei; Yuan He; Qian Zhang; Weiwei Jia; Haiying Wang; Jianing Xi; Xin Dai

doi:10.3389/fneur.2023.1213491

Findings of a videofluoroscopic swallowing study in patients with dysphagia

Front Neurol. 2023 Aug 4:14:1213491. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1213491. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Qingjia Cui¹, Bing Wei², Yuan He², Qian Zhang², Weiwei Jia², Haiying Wang², Jianing Xi³, Xin Dai²

Affiliations

¹ Rehabilitation Centre of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck, Beijing Rehabilitation Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
² Speech Rehabilitation Department of Neurorehabilitation Center, Beijing Rehabilitation Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
³ Beijing Rehabilitation Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.

Abstract

Objective: Swallowing examination is crucial in patients with dysphagia. We aimed to compare qualitative and quantitative videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) results to provide reference for standardizing quantitative parameters.

Materials and methods: In total, 117 patients with dysphagia were included, 38 with Parkinson's disease and 39 and 40 in convalescence following cerebral hemorrhage and infarction. VFSS was both qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed.

Results: A significant difference of Oral transit time was found between the oral motor function grades (p < 0.001), also was swallowing reaction times found between swallowing reaction duration grades (p < 0.001), and soft palate lift duration between the soft palate lift grades (p < 0.001). Superior hyoid bone movement (p < 0.001), anterior hyoid bone movement (p < 0.001), hyoid pause time (p < 0.001), and hyoid movement duration (p = 0.032) had significant differences between the hyoid laryngeal complex movement grades, as did the pharyngeal cavity transit time among the cricopharyngeal muscle opening duration grades (p < 0.001). The laryngeal vestibule closure duration differed among the glottic closure grades (p < 0.001). No statistically significant difference in upper esophageal sphincter opening diameter (p = 0.682) or duration (p = 0.682) among the cyclopharyngeal muscle opening duration grades. The pharyngeal area at rest did not significantly differ among the different vallecular residue (p = 0.202) and pyriform sinus residue (p = 0.116) grades.

Conclusion: Several quantitative parameters can reflect the swallowing assessment process well. Further optimization of quantitative parameters is recommended.

Keywords: dysphagia; parameters; qualitative analysis; quantitative analysis; videofluoroscopic swallowing study.