The Usefulness of Video Fluoroscopic Swallowing Study in Post-Stroke Dysphagia Patients

Abstract

Dysphagia is common and serious problems in post-stroke patients. The post-stroke dysphagia with aspiration is associated with dehydration, malnutrition, pneumonia, sepsis and death. Up to date, gag reflex and choking history used to decide the aspiration in clinical. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the aspiration and to choice the proper meal formation using by video fluoroscpic swallowing study(VFSS) with post-stroke dysphagia patients. 58 post-stroke patients and ten normal person participated to perform the VFSS with liquid type, puding, yoplait, rice mixed with barium(Ba). Two rehabilitation medicine doctors and a radiological technologist analysed the phase(oral, pharyngeal, esophageal phase)with video film, and checked the pharyngeal transition time(PTT). 38 patients showed abnormality in pharyngeal phase, 13 patients in oral and pharyngeal phase, 3 patients in oral phase, and 2 patients in pharyngeal and esophageal phase. 43 patients(65.2%) occured the aspiration, but 23 of 43 patients improved by the chin tuck position. Aspiration occured 34 patients in liquid type, 2patients in rice gruel and nothing in boiled rice. After VFSS, 13 of 23 patients change the intaking pathway from nasogastric tube(NGT) to oral, On the contrary with 3 of 42 patients from oral to NGT. Consequently VFSS is clearly effective to evaluate the aspiration with post-stroke dysphagia patients.