Bedside screening tests vs. videofluoroscopy or fibreoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing to detect dysphagia in patients with neurological disorders: systematic review

Qualifications, professional roles and service practices of nurses, occupational therapists and speech-language pathologists in the management of adults with oropharyngeal dysphagia: a Nordic survey

PURPOSE

To identify the qualifications, professional roles and service practices of nurses, occupational therapists (OTs) and speech-language pathologists (SLPs) in the management of adults with oropharyngeal dysphagia (OD) in the Nordic countries.

METHODS

A web-based survey was developed that consisted of 50 questions on respondent demographics, education, experience, roles and service practices provided for adults with OD. The survey was distributed to practicing nurses, OTs, and SLPs in five Nordic countries via professional associations, social media, online networks and snowballing.

RESULTS

Data from 396 nurses, OTs and SLPs whom provided services for adults with OD revealed that the majority of respondents worked in acute care and inpatient rehabilitation facilities. Most respondents had minimal undergraduate education and practical clinical training in OD. Notable variances in roles and service practices in OD between professions and countries were found. OTs were the primary service provider for OD management in Denmark, while SLPs had this role in the other Nordic countries. Nurses were mainly involved in screening and some compensatory treatments in most Nordic countries. Limited use of evidence-based screening, non-instrumental or instrumental clinical assessments and rehabilitative therapeutic methods was evident.

CONCLUSIONS

Study results highlight challenges in education and training of professionals responsible for the management of adults with OD in the Nordic countries. Increased use of evidence-based assessment and exercise-based treatments to improve swallowing are warranted. Adherence to European and international clinical practice guidelines for the management of adults with OD is recommended.

Noninstrumental Dysphagia Assessment and Screening: A Proposed Checklist

PURPOSE

In the field of dysphagia research, there is a need to establish a framework for the critical appraisal of methodological reporting. A working group was formed to develop a tool to aid in such critical appraisal across various domains of dysphagia research (called the FRONTIERS [Framework for RigOr aNd Transparency In REseaRch on Swallowing] Framework). The goal of the current paper is to present and describe one domain of this tool: noninstrumental assessment and screening tools.

METHOD

Methods describing the development of the FRONTIERS Framework and the associated tool are detailed in the prologue of this series.

RESULTS

A set of questions specific to the critical appraisal of transparency and rigor of research involving noninstrumental screening and assessment tools was developed. This included 13 "yes/no" questions, each of which is presented with a rationale for its inclusion and an example of its implementation.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of this framework will serve researchers and those appraising the quality of research that uses noninstrumental dysphagia assessment and screening tools. More broadly, the FRONTIERS Framework will facilitate improved rigor and transparency across dysphagia research. Special considerations and future goals are discussed.

Efficacy of an Aspiration Prevention Program That Utilizes the Gugging Swallowing Screen in Older Patients

Purpose

Older patients have a higher risk of aspiration pneumonia and mortality if they are hospitalized. We aimed to assess the effectiveness of an aspiration prevention quality improvement (QI) program that utilizes the Gugging Swallowing Screen (GUSS) in older patients.

Patients and Methods

This retrospective cohort study was conducted in an acute medical care unit of a tertiary hospital in South Korea. The study used one-to-one propensity matching and included 96 patients who received the QI program and 96 who did not. All patients were aged 65 years or older and had risk factors for aspiration, including neurological and non-neurological disorders, neuromuscular disorders, impaired airway defenses, and dysphagia due to esophageal or gastrointestinal disorders. The primary outcomes included the duration of the fasting period during hospitalization, changes in nutritional status before admission and at discharge, in-hospital mortality, and readmission due to pneumonia within 90 days.

Results

Fasting period, changes in weight and albumin levels upon discharge after hospitalization, and length of stay did not differ significantly between patients in the GUSS and non-GUSS groups. However, the risk of readmission within 90 days was significantly lower in patients who underwent the GUSS than in those who did not (hazard ratio, 0.085; 95% confidence interval, 0.025-0.290; p = 0.001).

Conclusion

The GUSS aspiration prevention program effectively prevented readmission due to pneumonia within 90 days in older patients with acute illnesses. This implies that the adoption of efficient aspiration prevention methods in older patients with acute illnesses could play a pivotal role by enhancing patient outcomes and potentially mitigating the healthcare costs linked to readmissions.

Dysphagia in Head and Neck Cancer

Dysphagia is a common symptom in patients with head and neck cancer that can significantly impact health outcomes and quality of life. The origin of dysphagia in these patients is often multifactorial, making diagnosis and management especially complex. The evaluating otolaryngologist should be well versed with the patient's neoplasm, comorbidities, and treatment history alongside dysphagia-specific imaging modalities. Management is often dynamic, requiring frequent monitoring, interprofessional collaboration, and a variety of supportive and invasive measures to achieve optimal outcomes.

Degree of swallowing impairment in the elderly: clinical and instrumental assessment

OBJECTIVE

To classifying the degree of swallowing impairment in the elderly, comparing clinical and instrumental assessment.

METHODS

This is a cross-sectional study with quantitative and qualitative analysis of clinical and instrumental assessment of 37 elderly, aged 60-82 years, of both genders without neurological, oncological or systemic diseases, participated in this study. All participants were submitted to clinical evaluation and their results compared through fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing considering liquid, pudding and solid food consistencies. Data were analyzed descriptively and statistically using the analysis of variance test (two-way ANOVA) and Tukey's post hoc test (p <  0.05).

RESULTS

In the clinical evaluation there was a higher occurrence of moderate swallowing impairment, followed by functional swallowing, while in fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing the severity of the impairment was greater for moderate and mild degrees. There was no statistical difference between the clinical and instrumental evaluation methods. However, there was a significant interaction between the variables, with a difference for liquid consistency in the instrumental evaluation method.

CONCLUSION

Healthy elderly have different degree of swallowing impairment according to food consistency. The clinical assessment using a scale that considers the physiological changes of the elderly, presented results similar to those found in the instrumental examination.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 2

Understanding Dysphagia Care in Pakistan: A Survey of Current Speech Language Therapy Practice

Dysphagia affects individuals across all ages and has pervasive and potentially life-threatening consequences. Individuals with dysphagia are assessed and treated by speech and language therapists (SLTs), however, little attention has been paid to their practices in Pakistan. This study aimed to explore SLTs practices for dysphagia assessment, signs and symptoms observed during evaluation, and management strategies, alongside barriers and facilitators to service delivery in Pakistan. A 45-item survey was distributed to SLTs online. Responses were received from 101 participants and analyzed descriptively, and open-text responses were analyzed using content analysis. Results revealed that 65.3% SLTs worked across the lifespan, and most (79.4%) had dysphagia-related experience of five years or less. SLTs were an active workforce engaged with varying ages, disorders, and settings, yet dysphagia contributed to a small caseload percentage for most. Analyses found informal clinical exams were more frequently used than instrumental assessments. A variety of service provision facilitators were described, such as supportive teams and accessible resources, and responses about barriers revealed gaps in awareness, education, and guidance. This exploratory study presents novel and unexplored data which provides a deeper understanding of dysphagia-related care in Pakistan.

Development of a Dutch Version of the Sydney Swallow Questionnaire: Assessing Oropharyngeal Dysphagia Severity in Dutch-Speaking Populations

Aims

The oropharyngeal dysphagia (OD) poses substantial health risks and affects quality of life. Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are gaining prominence for their crucial role in early detection and adapting rehabilitation and management decisions. This highlights the need for culturally pertinent versions in different languages, especially when addressing conditions like OD. This study aimed to translate, culturally adapt, and assess the test-retest reliability of the Sydney Swallow Questionnaire (SSQ), a PROM designed to detect the risk of OD, for Dutch-speaking populations.

Materials and Methods

The SSQ was translated and adapted based on Beaton's guidelines. Validity and test-retest reliability were assessed in 100 healthy participants, with a subset of 30 participants assessed over a 15-day interval. Intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) values were calculated to determine test-retest reliability.

Results

The SSQ-Dutch was well received and well understood, with a median total score of 65.5/1700. Notably, 95% of participants scored below the established dysphagia risk cut-off, consistent with previous validations. The 15-day interval ICC for the SSQ-Dutch total scores was 0.82 (CI 95%: 0.66-0.91), indicating good reliability. While most questions had moderate-to-good reliability, five showed slightly lower ICC.

Conclusion

The SSQ-Dutch emerges as a validated and reliable tool for assessing OD risk in Dutch-speaking individuals. Future studies should evaluate its efficacy in symptomatic populations and consider cultural variations in Dutch-speaking regions.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12070-024-04484-3.

Manual Therapy of Dysphagia in a Patient with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Case Report

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is an incurable rare neurodegenerative condition, with 45% of cases showing the symptom of dysphagia; its clinical signs are atrophy, weakness, and fasciculations of the facial muscles, tongue, and pharynx. Furthermore, dysphagia is the main cause of aspiration pneumonia. The traditional treatment for dysphagia varies based on the patient's difficulty of swallowing. The initial phase consists of dietary consistency adjustments, progressing to alternatives like nasogastric tubes or percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) in advanced stages. Osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) is a complementary 'hands-on' approach that has already shown positive results as an add-on therapy in various health conditions. This study is a case report of a man diagnosed with ALS with initial dysphagia, managed with a protocol that extraordinarily included OMT. The patient showed somatic dysfunctions in the mediastinal region, upper cervical region, and occipital area which are all anatomically related to the nervous system, especially the glossopharyngeal reflex. At the end of the rehabilitation protocol, there was a reduction in the swallowing problems measured with Strand Scale and swallowing tests, and the patient reported an improved psycho-physical well-being assessed with the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Assessment Questionnaire (ALSAQ-40). Instead, the neurological function measured with ALSFRS-S remained stable. Although the nature of this study design prevents any causal assumption, the positive results should lead to future randomized controlled trials to assess the effectiveness of OMT as an adjunctive therapeutic proposal to improve the health of ALS patients.

Contribution of Wireless Wi-Fi Intraoral Cameras to the Assessment of Swallowing Safety and Efficiency

BACKGROUND

Clinical evaluation of swallowing provides important clinical information but is limited in detecting penetration, aspiration, and pharyngeal residue in patients with suspected dysphagia. Although this is an old problem, there remains limited access to low-cost methods to evaluate swallowing safety and efficiency.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this technical report is to describe the experience of a single center that recently began using a wireless Wi-Fi intraoral camera for transoral endoscopic procedures as an adjunct to clinical swallowing evaluation. We describe the theoretical structure of this new clinical evaluation proposal. We present descriptive findings on its diagnostic performance in relation to videofluoroscopic swallowing study as the gold standard in a cohort of seven patients with dysphagia following head and neck cancer. We provide quantitative data on intra- and interrater reliability. Furthermore, this report discusses how this technology can be applied in the clinical practice of professionals who treat patients with dysphagia and provides directions for future research.

CONCLUSIONS

This preliminary retrospective study suggests that intraoral cameras can reveal the accumulated oropharyngeal secretions and postswallow pharyngolaryngeal residue in patients with suspected dysphagia. Future large-scale studies focusing on validating and exploring this contemporary low-cost technology as part of a clinical swallowing evaluation are warranted.

Development and Validation of a Risk Prediction Model to Predict Postextubation Dysphagia in Elderly Patients After Endotracheal Intubation Under General Anesthesia: A Single-Center Cross-Sectional Study

At present, the incidence and risk factors for dysphagia after extubation in elderly inpatients are still unclear, and we aimed to develop and validate a risk prediction model that prospectively identifies high-risk patients to reduce the occurrence rate of dysphagia. The 469 patients recruited were randomly divided into modeling and validation groups in a 7:3 ratio. In the modeling group, the postextubation dysphagia (PED) risk factors were analyzed, and a risk prediction model was established. In the validation group, the model was validated and evaluated. The model was constructed based on the risk factors determined by a binary logistic regression analysis. The discrimination ability of the model was evaluated by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. The calibration curve and Hosmer‒Lemeshow test were performed to evaluate the model's calibration ability. The clinical utility of the risk prediction model was analyzed by decision curve analysis (DCA). The results showed that the incidence of PED was 15.99%, and age, duration of indwelling gastric tube, difficult endotracheal intubation, atomization after extubation, anesthesia risk level and frailty assessment were identified as important risk factors. The model was validated to have favorable discrimination, calibration ability and clinical utility. It has a certain extension value and clinical applicability, providing a feasible reference for preventing the occurrence of PED.

Diagnostic Accuracy of Mann Assessment of Swallowing Ability for Predicting Dysphagia in Patients with Psychiatric Disorders

Dysphagia occurs in various diseases and constitutes a major concern in patients with psychiatric disorders. The Mann Assessment of Swallowing Ability (MASA) comprises 24 clinical parameters designed to identify swallowing disorders. One item in MASA, the "gag reflex", involves an unpleasant stimulus, which means that it is often omitted when the test is administered. The aims of this study were to determine the presence/absence of dysphagia in patients with psychiatric disorders using the MASA and determine its diagnostic accuracy when the gag reflex item was excluded in patients with psychiatric disorders. The study participants comprised patients admitted to a hospital psychiatric ward in whom dysphagia had been suspected based on oral intake status. The following items were determined: age, total MASA score (23 out of 24 items, giving a score out of 195 points), body mass index score, milligram equivalents of chlorpromazine, and the Food Intake Level Scale score. The patients were divided into two groups according to the presence or absence of swallowing problems as assessed by videoendoscopic or videofluoroscopic examination. The scores for each item investigated in the MASA, including the total score, were compared between the two groups. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was carried out to determine the optimum cut-off value. The total MASA score, which excluded the "gag reflex" item, was lower in the problematic swallowing group than in the non-problematic swallowing group. The MASA scores for cooperation, respiratory, dysphasia, tongue coordination, oral preparation, pharyngeal phase, and pharyngeal response tended to be lower in the problematic swallowing group. Furthermore, an optimum cut-off value of 169 points (sensitivity, 0.92; specificity, 0.68; likelihood ratio, 2.84) was identified. These results indicate that the cut-off MASA score is effective in screening for dysphagia, even when the "gag reflex" item is excluded.

The Association Between Dysphagia Symptoms, DIGEST Scores, and Severity Ratings in Individuals with Parkinson's Disease

The Swallow Disturbance Questionnaire (SDQ) is a screening tool developed to identify patients with Parkinson's Disease (PD) in need of objective swallowing evaluation. In a previous investigation, the SDQ did not predict abnormal airway protection on a videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS). This investigation was undertaken to determine whether SDQ scores were more accurate when a global measure was used. The Dynamic Imaging Grade for Swallowing Toxicity (DIGEST) is a validated measure that provides a safety, efficiency, and total severity grade based on VFSS. A secondary analysis was performed using data from 20 patients with PD who had participated in a standardized VFSS protocol. The study sample was predominantly male (80%) with an average age of 71 years, and an average PD duration of 9 years. Using an established cut-off score, participants were subdivided into those with "normal" (n = 10) and "abnormal" SDQ scores (n = 10). Recordings were scored using the DIGEST protocol by two blinded raters who also rated overall dysphagia severity from the VFSS. There was good agreement between the two raters on the DIGEST and strong correlations between DIGEST scores and clinician perceptions of dysphagia severity. Higher SDQ scores were associated with poorer Efficiency on the DIGEST but not Safety or Total scores. Consistent with other PD studies, subjective perceptions of dysphagia were poorly predictive of objective findings on VFSS. There is little information about the validity of the DIGEST for rating neurogenic dysphagia. Our study provides preliminary support for the use of the DIGEST in the PD population.

Ultrasonography for Eating and Swallowing Assessment: A Narrative Review of Integrated Insights for Noninvasive Clinical Practice

Dysphagia is a syndrome of abnormal eating function resulting from a variety of causative diseases, and is associated with malnutrition. To date, the swallowing function has been difficult to examine without the use of invasive and expensive methods, such as the videofluorographic swallowing study or fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing. In recent years, progress has been made in the clinical application of ultrasound equipment for the evaluation of body compositions near the body surface, including the assessment of nutritional status. Ultrasound examination is a noninvasive procedure and relatively inexpensive, and the equipment required is highly portable thanks to innovations such as wireless probes and tablet monitoring devices. The process of using ultrasound to visualize the geniohyoid muscle, digastric muscle, mylohyoid muscle, hyoid bone, tongue, masseter muscle, genioglossus muscle, orbicularis oris muscle, temporalis muscle, pharynx, esophagus, and larynx, and the methods used for evaluating these structures, are provided in this study in detail. This study also aims to propose a protocol for the assessment of swallowing-related muscles that can be applied in real-world clinical practice for the diagnosis of sarcopenic dysphagia, which can occur in elderly patients with sarcopenia, and has received much attention in recent years.

The Timed Water Swallow Test (TWST): Normative data on swallowing capacity for healthy people aged 60 years and older

PURPOSE

To provide normative data on swallowing capacity (mL/s) in people older than 60 years using the Timed Water Swallow Test (TWST), stratified by sex. Intra- and inter-rater reliability for swallowing time in TWST was further investigated.

METHOD

A total of 165 participants, aged 60 years and above, were included in the study. The time taken to consume 150 mL of tap water and the swallowing capacity (mL/s) was observed in a clinical context using the TWST. Video recordings of the performances were collected for 118 of the 165 participants for inter-rater reliability testing, of which a random set of 25 performances were assessed for intra-rater reliability. Analysis of the agreement between TWST rated by an in-person clinician and rated from a video recording was further evaluated.

RESULT

There were significant age and sex effects observed for swallowing capacity. The average reduction in swallowing capacity in the investigated age range (60-92 years) was 8.8 and 7.3 mL/s, for women and men respectively. The results showed high inter-and intra-rater reliability and agreement between the clinical assessment and the video recording.

CONCLUSION

The presented measurements indicate a clear effect of age on swallowing capacity and that women may be expected to have lower capacity scores than men when tested using TWST. The provided norms can be used as reference points in the clinical identification of people at risk of dysphagia in the older population.

Feasibility study of the Nox-T3 device to detect swallowing and respiration pattern in neurologically impaired patients in the acute phase

Dysphagia is a frequent complication in neurologically impaired patients, which can lead to aspiration pneumonia and thus prolonged hospitalization or even death. It is essential therefore, to detect and assess dysphagia early for best patient care. Fiberoptic endoscopic and Videofluoroscopy evaluation of swallowing are the gold standard exams in swallowing studies but neither are perfectly suitable for patients with disorders of consciousness (DOC). In this study, we aimed to find the sensitivity and specificity of the Nox-T3 sleep monitor for detection of swallowing. A combination of submental and peri-laryngeal surface electromyography, nasal cannulas and respiratory inductance plethysmography belts connected to Nox-T 3 allows recording swallowing events and their coordination with breathing, providing time-coordinated patterns of muscular and respiratory activity. We compared Nox-T3 swallowing capture to manual swallowing detection on fourteen DOC patients. The Nox-T3 method identified swallow events with a sensitivity of 95% and a specificity of 99%. In addition, Nox-T3 has qualitative contributions, such as visualization of the swallowing apnea in the respiratory cycle which provide additional information on the swallowing act that is useful to clinicians in the management and rehabilitation of the patient. These results suggest that Nox-T3 could be used for swallowing detection in DOC patients and support its continued clinical use for swallowing disorder investigation.

A scoping review of the evidence for the use of screening tools in people with intellectual disabilities with dysphagia

BACKGROUND

Dysphagia can have serious health implications including choking and respiratory infection leading to poorer quality of life. People with intellectual disabilities are at higher risk of dysphagia related health complications and early death. Robust dysphagia screening tools are vital for this population.

METHOD

A scoping review and appraisal of the evidence for dysphagia and feeding screening tools for use with people with intellectual disabilities was undertaken.

RESULTS

Seven studies (using six screening tools) met the review inclusion criteria. Mostly studies were limited by no defined dysphagia criteria, no verification of tools with a gold reference standard (e.g., videofluoroscopic examination) and lack of participant diversity (small samples, narrow age range, severity of intellectual disability or limited settings).

CONCLUSIONS

There is urgent need for development and rigorous appraisal of existing dysphagia screening tools to meet the needs of a wider range of people with intellectual disabilities (particularly mild-to-moderate severity) and in wider settings.

Prevalence of Oropharyngeal Dysphagia in Adults in Different Healthcare Settings: A Systematic Review and Meta-analyses

Oropharyngeal dysphagia (OD) is prevalent in the elderly and persons with complex medical conditions, resulting in considerable medical and psychosocial consequences and reduced quality of life. Many prevalence studies regard OD in relation to age or diagnosis. Knowledge on the prevalence of OD in different healthcare settings is lacking. This systematic review aimed to estimate the prevalence of OD in adults admitted to hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, nursing homes, and palliative care facilities through meta-analyses. A systematic literature search was completed including all dates up to March 30, 2021. The methodology and reporting were based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). Forty-four out of 1,956 screened articles were deemed eligible. Considerable heterogeneity in definitions of OD and type and quality of selected outcome measures were observed. Overall within-group pooled prevalence estimates for OD determined by meta-analysis were 36.5% (95% CI 29.9 - 43.6) in the hospital setting, 42.5% (95% CI 35.8 - 49.5) in the rehabilitation setting, and 50.2% (95% CI 33.3-67.2) in nursing homes. No OD prevalence data were identified for palliative care facilities. Results for between-group analyses of OD prevalence estimates in the hospital setting were non-significant for type of assessment method, diagnostic group, and type of hospital ward, but indicated significantly higher prevalence estimates in nursing homes when using screening compared to patient-report. Future research should provide OD prevalence data for palliative care, achieve consensus in OD-related terminology when performing prevalence studies, and use screening and assessments with optimal diagnostic performance and psychometric properties.

Reliability and Validity of Non-Instrumental Clinical Assessments for Adults with Oropharyngeal Dysphagia: A Systematic Review

This systematic review on non-instrumental clinical assessment in adult oropharyngeal dysphagia (OD) provides an overview of published measures with reported reliability and validity. In alignment with PRISMA, four databases (CINAHL, Embase, PsycINFO, and PubMed) were searched, resulting in a total of 16 measures and 32 psychometric studies included. The included measures assessed any aspect of swallowing, consisted of at least one specific subscale relating to swallowing, were developed by clinical observation, targeted adults, and were developed in English. The included psychometric studies focused on adults, reported on measures for OD-related conditions, described non-instrumental clinical assessments, reported on validity or reliability, and were published in English. Methodological quality was assessed using the standard quality assessment QualSyst. Most measures targeted only restricted subdomains within the conceptual framework of non-instrumental clinical assessments. Across the 16 measures, hypothesis testing and reliability were the most reported psychometrics, whilst structural validity and content validity were the least reported. Overall, data on the reliability and validity of the included measures proved incomplete and frequently did not meet current psychometric standards. Future research should focus on the development of comprehensive non-instrumental clinical assessments for adults with OD using contemporary psychometric research methods.

Frequency and associated factors for swallowing impairment in community-dwelling older persons: a systematic review and meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

Swallowing impairment (SI) is an underdiagnosed dysfunction frequently seen as an expected condition of aging. However, SI can lead to health complications and considerable social impact.

METHODS

The objective of this systematic review with meta-analysis was to evaluate the frequency and associated factors with SI in community-dwelling older persons. Searches were performed in 13 electronic databases including MEDLINE and EMBASE (from inception to September 18, 2021). Data extraction and methodological quality assessment of included studies were performed by two independent reviewers. Meta-analysis of proportions with 95% confidence interval (CI) and prediction interval (PI) was used to pool estimates. Subgroup analysis by Country and Assessment Method was performed. General meta-analysis was used to pool measures of association between potential risk factors and SI occurrence (odds ratio [OR] or prevalence ratio [PR]).

RESULTS

The worldwide estimated frequency of SI in community-dwelling older persons was 20.35% (95%CI 16.61-24.68%, 95%PI 4.79-56.45, I² 99%, n = 33,291). This estimation varied across assessment methods and by country. The main factors associated with SI were a dry mouth (OR 8.1, 95%CI 4.9-13.4), oral diadochokinesis (OR 5.3, 95%CI 1.0-27.3), ≥ 80 years old (OR 4.9, 95%CI 2.6-9.2), genetic factor (SNPrs17601696) (OR 4.8, 95%CI 2.7-8.3), and partial dependence (OR 4.3, 95%CI 2.0-9.3). And the main factors associated with SI estimated by PR were dry mouth sensation (PR 4.1, 95%CI 2.6-6.5), oral sensorimotor alteration (PR 2.6, 95%CI 1.4-4.9), osteoporosis (PR 2.51, 95%CI 1.2-5.3), and heart diseases (PR 2.31, 95%CI 1.1-5.0).

CONCLUSION

One in five older adults worldwide are expected to experience SI and factors associated with this underdiagnosed dysfunction included biological and physiological changes related to aging, physical and psychological conditions, and poor oral health. Early assessment is paramount for the prevention of future clinical complications and should be a high priority in health care practices.

Accuracy of Dysphagia Standard Assessment (DSA®) bedside screening test: a flowchart for patient eligibility

BACKGROUND

Oropharyngeal dysphagia (OD) screening tests have improved patient management; however, the complex applicability and high percentage of false negatives do not allow these tests to be considered completely reliable if not supported by an instrumental investigation. The aim of the present study is to evaluate an OD screening test, the Dysphagia Standard Assessment (DSA®) with different volumes and viscosities.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Prospective study of 72 patients evaluated for suspected OD through a double-blind methodology conducted by two operators. All patients underwent fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) as a reference test and a separate DSA® test. DSA® was performed by administering boluses with different viscosities, with the signal of interruption of the test being: onset of the cough reflex, wet voice after swallowing, and/or desaturation of O2 ≥ 5%. The Penetration-Aspiration Scale (PAS) was evaluated by FEES. The cut-off identified to diagnose OD was PAS ≥ 3.

RESULTS

The test showed an accuracy of 82%, a sensitivity of 0.93 (95% C.I. 0.84-0.97), and a specificity of 0.78 (95% C.I. 0.67-0.87); positive predictive value 0.55 (95% C.I. 0.43-0.67); negative predictive value 0.97 (95% C.I. 0.90-0.99), positive likelihood ratio 4.37 (95% C.I. 3.6-5.2); likelihood negative ratio 0.08 (95% C.I. 0.06-0.09).

CONCLUSIONS

According to the preliminary results, the test showed good outcomes in determining the presence or absence of OD with a wide spectrum of applicability with some limitations that could be overcome by the selection of a target population. For this reason, a flowchart to address patient eligibility was developed.

Management of dysphagia and gastroparesis in Parkinson's disease in real-world clinical practice - Balancing pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches

Gastrointestinal (GI) issues are commonly experienced by patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). Those that affect the lower GI tract, such as constipation, are the most frequently reported GI problems among patients with PD. Upper GI issues, such as swallowing dysfunction (dysphagia) and delayed gastric emptying (gastroparesis), are also common in PD but are less well recognized by both patients and clinicians and, therefore, often overlooked. These GI issues may also be perceived by the healthcare team as less of a priority than management of PD motor symptoms. However, if left untreated, both dysphagia and gastroparesis can have a significant impact on the quality of life of patients with PD and on the effectiveness on oral PD medications, with negative consequences for motor control. Holistic management of PD should therefore include timely and effective management of upper GI issues by utilizing both non-pharmacological and pharmacological approaches. This dual approach is key as many pharmacological strategies have limited efficacy in this setting, so non-pharmacological approaches are often the best option. Although a multidisciplinary approach to the management of GI issues in PD is ideal, resource constraints may mean this is not always feasible. In 'real-world' practice, neurologists and PD care teams often need to make initial assessments and treatment or referral recommendations for their patients with PD who are experiencing these problems. To provide guidance in these cases, this article reviews the published evidence for diagnostic and therapeutic management of dysphagia and gastroparesis, including recommendations for timely and appropriate referral to GI specialists when needed and guidance on the development of an effective management plan.

European Survey: Dysphagia Management in Patients with Neuromuscular Diseases

Dysphagia is common in patients with neuromuscular diseases (NMDs). Its management differs by country and clinical setting. The purpose of this study was to describe current practices in the management of dysphagia in NMDs across Europe. An online survey of sixteen questions was developed, including basic information on facilities, existence of a management protocol, availability of dedicated therapists, tools used during screening, assessment, treatment stages, and treatment strategies. The survey was rolled out to European healthcare facilities providing care for NMDs. A total of 140 facilities across 25 European countries completed the survey. Substantial discrepancies in dysphagia management were identified among respondents. Seventy-two percent of the facilities reported having a protocol for at least one of the three management stages whereas only 39% had one for all. Speech and language therapists were reported as involved throughout the entire management stage while participation of other members from multidisciplinary teams varied depending on the stage. Clinical swallowing assessment was the most frequently reported tool in the assessment and treatment stages. For screening, questionnaires were the most frequently used while instrumental examinations were mainly reported in the assessment stage. For the treatment stage, adaptation strategies (diet, food, and posture) were the most reported approaches. In conclusion, the survey highlighted the absence of a defined protocol concerning the management of dysphagia in most of the surveyed healthcare facilities. Standardized training strategies and guidelines are necessary in the future to familiarize clinicians with each stage of the management of dysphagia.

The power struggle: exploring the reality of clinical reasoning

PURPOSE

Historically, clinical reasoning has largely been considered from an empirical, biomedical standpoint. This epistemology, rooted in imperial rule, is influential in how healthcare practitioners practice. An empirical approach to healthcare often oversimplifies the complex nature of clinical reasoning by obscuring the influence of imperial ideologies on decision-making. This can perpetuate inequitable approaches to healthcare delivery which deepen social, political and economic divides globally. This paper aims to explore and challenge this standpoint by exploring how power, imperialism and performativity influences healthcare provision and decision-making amongst healthcare practitioners in dysphagia rehabilitation.

METHODS

Qualitative exploratory interviews were undertaken with seven South African trained SLPs with experience working in dysphagia. To allow for participation and collaboration from participants, three data collection tools were employed within the interviews: oral histories, cognitive mapping and arts-based tasks. An initial modified thematic analysis followed by a further ideological analysis were undertaken to analyse the data collected.

RESULTS

The results suggest that the participants felt influenced by several manifestations of power within healthcare. We argue that this demonstrates that imperial practices can influence knowledge, interaction and context and therefore affect how healthcare practitioners make decisions.

CONCLUSION

By acknowledging the impact of imperialism and power dynamics on healthcare provision and clinical reasoning we can potentially begin to transform the epistemology from which we approach healthcare provision in favour of one which is better suited to the current realities of healthcare to allow for equitable service provision.

European Stroke Organisation and European Society for Swallowing Disorders guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of post-stroke dysphagia

Post-stroke dysphagia (PSD) is present in more than 50% of acute stroke patients, increases the risk of complications, in particular aspiration pneumonia, malnutrition and dehydration, and is linked to poor outcome and mortality. The aim of this guideline is to assist all members of the multidisciplinary team in their management of patients with PSD. These guidelines were developed based on the European Stroke Organisation (ESO) standard operating procedure and followed the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. An interdisciplinary working group identified 20 relevant questions, performed systematic reviews and meta-analyses of the literature, assessed the quality of the available evidence and wrote evidence-based recommendations. Expert opinion was provided if not enough evidence was available to provide recommendations based on the GRADE approach. We found moderate quality of evidence to recommend dysphagia screening in all stroke patients to prevent post-stroke pneumonia and to early mortality and low quality of evidence to suggest dysphagia assessment in stroke patients having been identified at being at risk of PSD. We found low to moderate quality of evidence for a variety of treatment options to improve swallowing physiology and swallowing safety. These options include dietary interventions, behavioural swallowing treatment including acupuncture, nutritional interventions, oral health care, different pharmacological agents and different types of neurostimulation treatment. Some of the studied interventions also had an impact on other clinical endpoints such as feedings status or pneumonia. Overall, further randomized trials are needed to improve the quality of evidence for the treatment of PSD.

Postoperative Dysphagia Aortica: Comparison with Other Dysphagia

Dysphagia can be classified as oropharyngeal or esophageal, and functional or structural deficits of the esophagus can cause esophageal dysphagia. Dysphagia aortica (DA) is defined as dysphagia caused by extrinsic compression of the esophagus by the aorta. The aim of this study was to investigate the characteristics of DA by comparing the findings of videofluoroscopic swallowing studies (VFSS) with those of other dysphagia. Sixty-seven patients with postoperative dysphagia aortica (PDA), dysphagia after brainstem infarction (DBI), dysphagia after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (DACDF), and subjective swallowing difficulty (SSD) without penetration and/or aspiration, who had undergone VFSS incorporating tests using 5 ml of thin and thick liquids, were included. The clinical data were collected retrospectively. The penetration-aspiration scale, functional dysphagia scale (FDS), esophageal transit time (ETT), and aortic lesion parameters (maximal diameter and distance between the lesion and the apex of the aortic arch) were assessed. The patients with PDA had higher FDS scores than the patients with SSD and lower scores than the patients with DBI did on thin liquids, while the FDS scores on thick liquids were lower in the patients with PDA than in those with DBI or DACDF. The patients with PDA had longer ETT than the other three groups. No correlation was found between the aortic lesion parameters and the VFSS findings. Although PDA has some oropharyngeal symptoms, the esophageal phase was affected mainly by PDA. After an operation on the aorta, VFSS should be considered before resuming oral feeding.

Dysphagia and Swallowing Disorders

Dysphagia, defined as impairment of the swallowing process, is a common symptom and can be a significant source of morbidity and mortality in the general population. This article summarizes the causes of the condition, its prevalence, and the consequences and costs of untreated dysphagia. The aim of this article is to provide a framework for the general internist in assessing, diagnosing, and managing dysphagia in an adult patient. Basic diagnostic screening procedures and techniques for management are emphasized. A basic treatment pathway based on cause is provided for reference.

Machine learning based analysis of speech dimensions in functional oropharyngeal dysphagia

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

The normal swallowing process requires a complex coordination of anatomical structures driven by sensory and cranial nerves. Alterations in such coordination cause swallowing malfunctions, namely dysphagia. The dysphagia screening methods are quite subjective and experience dependent. Bearing in mind that the swallowing process and speech production share some anatomical structures and mechanisms of neurological control, this work aims to evaluate the suitability of automatic speech processing and machine learning techniques for screening of functional dysphagia.

METHODS

Speech recordings were collected from 46 patients with functional oropharyngeal dysphagia produced by neurological causes, and 46 healthy controls. The dimensions of speech including phonation, articulation, and prosody were considered through different speech tasks. Specific features per dimension were extracted and analyzed using statistical tests. Machine learning models were applied per dimension via nested cross-validation. Hyperparameters were selected using the AUC - ROC as optimization criterion.

RESULTS

The Random Forest in the articulation related speech tasks retrieved the highest performance measures (AUC=0.86±0.10, sensitivity=0.91±0.12) for individual analysis of dimensions. In addition, the combination of speech dimensions with a voting ensemble improved the results, which suggests a contribution of information from different feature sets extracted from speech signals in dysphagia conditions.

CONCLUSIONS

The proposed approach based on speech related models is suitable for the automatic discrimination between dysphagic and healthy individuals. These findings seem to have potential use in the screening of functional oropharyngeal dysphagia in a non-invasive and inexpensive way.

A Systematic and a Scoping Review on the Psychometrics and Clinical Utility of the Volume-Viscosity Swallow Test (V-VST) in the Clinical Screening and Assessment of Oropharyngeal Dysphagia

(1) Background: The volume-viscosity swallow test (V-VST) is a clinical tool for screening and diagnosis of oropharyngeal dysphagia (OD). Our aims were to examine the clinical utility of the V-VST against videofluoroscopy (VFS) or fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallow (FEES) and to map the V-VST usage with patients at risk of OD across the years since it was described for the first time, carrying a systematic and a scoping review. (2) Methods: We performed both a systematic review (SR) including studies that look at the diagnostic test accuracy, and a scoping review (ScR) with articles published from September 2008 to May 2020. Searches were done in different databases, including PubMed and EMBASE from September 2008 until May 2020, and no language restrictions were applied. A meta-analysis was done in the SR to assess the psychometric properties of the V-VST. Quality of studies was assessed by Dutch Cochrane, QUADAS, GRADE (SR), and STROBE (ScR) criteria. The SR protocol was registered on PROSPERO (registration: CRD42020136252). (3) Results: For the diagnostic accuracy SR: four studies were included. V-VST had a diagnostic sensitivity for OD of 93.17%, 81.39% specificity, and an inter-rater reliability Kappa = 0.77. Likelihood ratios (LHR) for OD were 0.08 (LHR-) and 5.01 (LHR+), and the diagnostic odds ratio for OD was 51.18. Quality of studies in SR was graded as high with low risk of bias. In the ScR: 34 studies were retrieved. They indicated that V-VST has been used internationally to assess OD's prevalence and complications. (4) Conclusions: The V-VST has strong psychometric properties and valid endpoints for OD in different phenotypes of patients. Our results support its utility in the screening and clinical diagnosis and management of OD.

Association Between the Swallowing Reflex and the Incidence of Aspiration Pneumonia in Patients With Dysphagia Admitted to Long-term Care Wards: A Prospective Cohort Study of 60 Days

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the association between the Simple Swallowing Provocation Test (SSPT) and the incidence of aspiration pneumonia in patients with dysphagia in long-term care (LTC) wards.

DESIGN

The study design was a prospective cohort study. Participants were followed for 60 days from admission.

SETTING

LTC wards.

PARTICIPANTS

Study participants were patients with dysphagia aged ≥65 years who were admitted to LTC wards between August 2018 and August 2019. In total, 39 participants were included in the analysis (N=39; 20 male, 19 female; mean age, 83.8±8.5y). Participants were divided into 2 groups based on SSPT results: normal swallowing reflex (SSPT normal group) and abnormal swallowing reflex (SSPT abnormal group). The covariates were age and sex, primary disease, history of cerebrovascular disease, Glasgow Coma Scale, body mass index, Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index, the Mann Assessment of Swallowing Ability, Food Intake Level Scale, FIM, and Oral Health Assessment Tool.

INTERVENTIONS

Not applicable.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The outcome was the incidence of aspiration pneumonia during the first 60 days of hospitalization, and the predictive factor was SSPT: 0.4 mL.

RESULTS

The incidence of aspiration pneumonia was 33.3% in the SSPT normal group and 76.2% in the SSPT abnormal group. The φ coefficient (a measure of association for 2 binary variables) was 0.43, the risk ratio (the ratio of the probability of an outcome in an exposed group to the probability of an outcome in an unexposed group) was 2.29, and the 95% confidence interval was 1.14-4.58 for the SSPT abnormal group.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that the SSPT provides a valid index for the development of aspiration pneumonia in older patients with dysphagia admitted to LTC wards.

Decision making and the bedside assessment: The Speech Language Therapists' thinking when making a diagnosis at the bed

BACKGROUND

The bedside assessment is often seen as a screener because of its high variability in sensitivity and specificity, whilst the instrumental measures are viewed as gold standards because of the ability of speech-language therapist (SLT) to visualise the swallow more objectively.

OBJECTIVES

This research article explores how the value needs to be placed on the decision-making abilities of the SLT rather than on the assessment measure itself.

METHOD

A mixed methodology concurrent triangulation design was employed to collect data in two phases: the first phase included observing seven SLTs conducting assessments using a standardised bedside measure together with pulse oximetry and cervical auscultation. The second phase was a focus group discussion based on the findings from the first phase. Data were analysed thematically using a bottom-up approach.

RESULTS

The following factors were found to influence the decision-making process at the bedside: bedside assessment data sets, patient, multidisciplinary team, context and then SLT. The availability of more data from the assessment from different data sets improved the confidence of the SLT at the bedside when needing to make clinical decisions. Clinical instincts are developed through experience and observation of those more experienced. These skills need to be developed from junior years.

CONCLUSION

This research study showed that a bedside assessment can provide valuable information that will allow for diagnostic decisions to be made at the bedside. This study also highlighted the importance of critical thinking using clinical instincts, and that these are the factors that need to be valued and emphasised rather than the assessment measures themselves.

Cultural Adaptation and Validation of Questionnaires for Evaluation of Health-Related Quality of Life with Dysphagia in Different Countries: A Systematic Review

Dysphagia can have devastating and long-lasting effects on the patient's health-related quality of life (HRQoL). In recent years, a number of questionnaires for the evaluation of the HRQoL of patients with dysphagia have been developed and have been adapted for use in different countries and cultures. However, problems may arise in the process of cultural adaptation and validation, which can affect the quality of the questionnaires and their measurements. This study was conducted to systematically summarize the cultural adaptation and validation of questionnaires for the evaluation of dysphagia-related HRQoL in different countries, assessing the varieties, measurement properties, and qualities of these questionnaires, with the aim of identifying the status of their adaptation and validation and ways in which they might be improved. Four databases were searched, and relevant articles were screened, with data from eligible reports extracted and reviewed. The methodological quality of the included articles was evaluated using the QualSyst critical appraisal tool. The HRQoL questionnaires for patients with dysphagia were assessed using the quality criteria for the measurement properties of health status questionnaires proposed by Terwee et al. and Timmerman et al. 29 studies published between 2008 and 2020 were included. The questionnaires described in these 29 studies were translated into 19 languages and culturally adapted to 21 countries. The adapted questionnaires were based on the Swallowing quality of life questionnaire (SWAL-QOL) by Mchorney et al., the Dysphagia Handicap Index (DHI) by Silbergleit et al., the M.D. Anderson Dysphagia Inventory (MDADI) by Chen et al., and the Eating Assessment Tool-10 (EAT-10) by Belafsky et al. It was found that the questionnaires were reliable and valid instruments for the assessment of dysphagia-related HRQoL, but the quality criteria for cultural adaptation and validation were not strictly followed, especially in the categories of criterion validity, agreement, responsiveness, and interpretability. In conclusion, although the questionnaires were found to be both reliable and valid, the quality criteria should be considered and strictly followed in the cultural adaptation and validation process in the future.

Risk Score for Predicting Dysphagia in Patients After Neurosurgery: A Prospective Observational Trial

Background: Acquired dysphagia is common in patients with tracheal intubation and neurological disease, leading to increased mortality. This study aimed to ascertain the risk factors and develop a prediction model for acquired dysphagia in patients after neurosurgery.

Methods: A multicenter prospective observational study was performed on 293 patients who underwent neurosurgery. A standardized swallowing assessment was performed bedside within 24 h of extubation, and logistic regression analysis with a best subset selection strategy was performed to select predictors. A nomogram model was then established and verified.

Results: The incidence of acquired dysphagia in our study was 23.2% (68/293). Among the variables, days of neurointensive care unit (NICU) stay [odds ratio (OR), 1.433; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.141–1.882; P = 0.005], tracheal intubation duration (OR, 1.021; CI, 1.001–1.062; P = 0.175), use of a nasogastric feeding tube (OR, 9.131; CI, 1.364–62.289; P = 0.021), and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE)-II C score (OR, 1.709; CI, 1.421–2.148; P < 0.001) were selected as risk predictors for dysphagia and included in the nomogram model. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.980 (CI, 0.965–0.996) in the training set and 0.971 (0.937–1) in the validation set, with Brier scores of 0.045 and 0.056, respectively.

Conclusion: Patients who stay longer in the NICU, have a longer duration of tracheal intubation, require a nasogastric feeding tube, and have higher APACHE-II C scores after neurosurgery are likely to develop dysphagia. This developed model is a convenient and efficient tool for predicting the development of dysphagia.

Screening for oropharyngeal dysphagia in adult patients with neuromuscular diseases using the Sydney Swallow Questionnaire

INTRODUCTION/AIMS

Oropharyngeal dysphagia is common in patients with neuromuscular diseases (NMDs). Its early recognition is vital for proper management. We tested a large cohort of adult NMD patients for oropharyngeal dysphagia using the Sydney Swallow Questionnaire (SSQ). We also looked for possible differences in characteristics of oropharyngeal dysphagia in various NMD groups and diseases. Finally, we compared results of this screening with those from their corresponding medical records for eventual "clinical history" of dysphagia.

METHODS

We asked patients to fill in the SSQ during follow-up outpatient visits at our neuromuscular reference center. A total score above the cutoff score of 118.5 out of 1700 was indicative of oropharyngeal dysphagia.

RESULTS

Of the 304 adult patients assessed for eligibility, 201 NMD patients (96 women and 105 men, aged 49.0 ± 16.2 years) were included and tested in this study. Oropharyngeal dysphagia was detected in 45% of all the NMD patients when using the SSQ, whereas only 12% had a positive medical record for dysphagia. The median SSQ scores for patients with myotonic syndromes (including myotonic dystrophy type 1), with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and with facioscapulohumeral dystrophy were above the cutoff score. The SSQ scores obtained revealed distinct oropharyngeal dysphagia characteristics in the different NMD groups and diseases.

DISCUSSION

The SSQ tests positively for oropharyngeal dysphagia in a higher proportion of NMD patients compared with their medical records. The distinct oropharyngeal dysphagia characteristics we revealed in different NMD groups and diseases may help to elaborate adapted clinical approaches in the management of oropharyngeal dysphagia.

Diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound examination in detecting aspiration and pharyngeal residue in patients with dysphagia: A systematic review and meta-analysis

AIM

To estimate diagnostic accuracy of ultrasonography for detecting aspiration and pharyngeal residue in patients with dysphagia.

METHODS

A systematic search was conducted in MEDLINE (via PubMed), CINAHL, EMBASE, Ichushi-Web, and Cochrane Library databases to identify articles that showed diagnostic accuracy of ultrasonography for detecting aspiration and residue published in English and Japanese until August 2019. Cross-sectional studies, case-control studies, and cohort studies were included. The diagnostic accuracy results were extracted and the pooled estimated sensitivity and specificity were calculated. The risk of bias of the studies was assessed using the Revised Tool for the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies 2. The certainty of the evidence was assessed using the Grades of Recommendation Assessment, Development, and Evaluation methodology.

RESULTS

Five studies were included in this review. The pooled estimated sensitivity and specificity for detecting aspiration were 0.82 (95% CI: 0.72-0.89) and 0.87 (95% CI: 0.81-0.92), respectively. One study was included that evaluated ultrasound assessments of pharyngeal residue. The sensitivity and specificity were 0.62 (95% CI: 0.32-0.86) and 0.67 (95% CI: 0.22-0.96), respectively. The certainty of the evidence was low and very low for the diagnostic accuracy of aspiration and pharyngeal residue, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Ultrasound is a non-invasive method with good sensitivity and specificity in detecting aspiration as well as reference standards. While risk of bias and small number of studies limited the strength of this systematic review, our results suggested that ultrasound examination was useful as a bedside screening tool for detecting aspiration.

White Paper by the European Society for Swallowing Disorders: Screening and Non-instrumental Assessment for Dysphagia in Adults

This White Paper by the European Society for Swallowing Disorders (ESSD) reports on the current state of screening and non-instrumental assessment for dysphagia in adults. An overview is provided on the measures that are available, and how to select screening tools and assessments. Emphasis is placed on different types of screening, patient-reported measures, assessment of anatomy and physiology of the swallowing act, and clinical swallowing evaluation. Many screening and non-instrumental assessments are available for evaluating dysphagia in adults; however, their use may not be warranted due to poor diagnostic performance or lacking robust psychometric properties. This white paper provides recommendations on how to select best evidence-based screening tools and non-instrumental assessments for use in clinical practice targeting different constructs, target populations and respondents, based on criteria for diagnostic performance, psychometric properties (reliability, validity, and responsiveness), and feasibility. In addition, gaps in research that need to be addressed in future studies are discussed. The following recommendations are made: (1) discontinue the use of non-validated dysphagia screening tools and assessments; (2) implement screening using tools that have optimal diagnostic performance in selected populations that are at risk of dysphagia, such as stroke patients, frail older persons, patients with progressive neurological diseases, persons with cerebral palsy, and patients with head and neck cancer; (3) implement measures that demonstrate robust psychometric properties; and (4) provide quality training in dysphagia screening and assessment to all clinicians involved in the care and management of persons with dysphagia.

Detection of poststroke oropharyngeal dysphagia with swallowing screening by ultrasonography

There are currently no standard evaluation tools for poststroke neurogenic oropharyngeal dysphagia. We previously suggested calculating the relative movements of the hyoid bone and larynx by ultrasonography to evaluate swallowing movement. Swallowing movement is altered in neurogenic oropharyngeal dysphagia. Therefore, the present study aimed to verify whether an ultrasonographic evaluation of swallowing movement facilitates the detection of neurogenic oropharyngeal dysphagia. Eighteen healthy male elderly participants (the healthy group) and 18 male stroke patients diagnosed with neurogenic oropharyngeal dysphagia (the dysphagia group) were enrolled. Participants swallowed 5 mL of liquid and water with an adjusted viscosity and the movements of the hyoid bone and larynx were visualized by ultrasonography. The results obtained revealed significant differences in laryngeal duration (static phase), laryngeal displacement (elevation phase), and the hyoid bone–laryngeal motion ratio (HL motion ratio) between the two groups. A multiple regression analysis was performed to adjust for confounding factors, and laryngeal duration (static phase) and the HL motion ratios were identified as factors affecting dysphagia. In the receiver operation characteristic curve of the two variations, the area under the curve for laryngeal duration (static phase) was 0.744 and the cut-off was 0.26 sec with 72.2% sensitivity and 88.9% specificity; the area under the curve for the HL motion ratio was 0.951 and the cut-off was 0.56 with 88.9% sensitivity and 88.9% specificity. Therefore, the objective evaluation of hyoid bone and larynx movements during swallowing by ultrasonography facilitated the detection of neurogenic oropharyngeal dysphagia.

Dysphagia in Parkinson's disease patients prior to deep brain stimulation: Is screening accurate?

BACKGROUND

Swallowing problems are common in Parkinson's Disease (PD) and aspiration pneumonia is the leading cause of death. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery can successfully manage the motor symptoms of PD when pharmacological management begins to fail. Before DBS it is important to identify baseline dysfunction, but no consensus regarding swallowing screening exists.

OBJECTIVES

This study was undertaken to: 1) identify the prevalence of dysphagia prior to DBS; and 2) determine if screening measures or other characteristics were predictive for reduced airway protection.

METHODS

A standardized protocol was performed for 137 consecutive patients with idiopathic PD and no confounding medical conditions, including those referred for work-up of dysphagia (n = 57) and those prior to DBS (n = 80). Three validated screening measures were completed before videofluoroscopic evaluation.

RESULTS

On videofluoroscopy, there were significant differences in reduced airway protection by group (dysphagia group: 44 %; pre-DBS group: 21 %). Aspiration also differed by group (dysphagia group: 18 %; pre-DBS group: 8 %) although not significantly. Although there were significant between-group differences, none of the screening measures was predictive of reduced airway protection or aspiration in the sample overall. Male gender, previous videofluoroscopic evaluation, history of pneumonia, and previous DBS surgery were associated with increased aspiration-risk. Age also showed a modest correlation.

CONCLUSIONS

Dysphagia is not uncommon prior to DBS. No screening measure accurately predicted reduced airway protection on videofluoroscopy. Abnormal findings on clinical assessment prior to DBS, particularly in patients that are older, male, or have a history of pneumonia, may identify individuals requiring an objective dysphagia evaluation.

Post-stroke dysphagia: frequency, risk factors, and topographic representation: hospital-based study

Background

The frequency of dysphagia varies considerably across literature. Post-stroke dysphagia is a common cause of increased morbidity and length of hospitalization. This study aimed to estimate the frequency, risk factors of dysphagia following first-ever ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke and its neuroradiological correlation.

Methods

Two hundred fifty patients (180 ischemic and 70 hemorrhagic strokes) with first-ever stroke were recruited within 72 h of onset. Detailed history, neurological examination, and computed tomography and/or magnetic resonance were done for each patient. Severity of stroke was evaluated by the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS). Swallowing function was assessed by water swallowing test (WST) and dysphagia outcome severity scale (DOSS).

Results

Ninety-eight (39.2%) of all stroke patients had dysphagia, 57 (31.7%) of ischemic group, 41 (58.6%) of hemorrhagic group. The mean age of ischemic group with dysphagia was older than ages of non-dysphagic and older than hemorrhagic stroke with dysphagia group. The mean total NIHSS was higher in dysphagic group than non-dysphagic group in both ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke. Dysphagia in ischemic group was highly associated with diabetes mellitus (DM), hypertension (HTN), and atrial fibrillation (AF). Dysphagia was commonly associated with middle cerebral artery (MCA), brainstem, and capsular infarctions as well as with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) with ventricular extension. Stroke severity and lesion size were the main determinant of dysphagia severity.

Conclusions

The frequency of post-stroke dysphagia is consistent with other studies. Advanced age, DM, HTN, and AF were the main risk factors. MCA, brain stem, capsular infarctions, and ICH with ventricular extension were frequently associated with dysphagia. Stroke severity and lesion size were independent predictors of dysphagia severity.

European white paper: oropharyngeal dysphagia in head and neck cancer

PURPOSE

To develop a European White Paper document on oropharyngeal dysphagia (OD) in head and neck cancer (HNC). There are wide variations in the management of OD associated with HNC across Europe.

METHODS

Experts in the management of specific aspects of OD in HNC across Europe were delegated by their professional medical and multidisciplinary societies to contribute to this document. Evidence is based on systematic reviews, consensus-based position statements, and expert opinion.

RESULTS

Twenty-four sections on HNC-specific OD topics.

CONCLUSION

This European White Paper summarizes current best practice on management of OD in HNC, providing recommendations to support patients and health professionals. The body of literature and its level of evidence on diagnostics and treatment for OD in HNC remain poor. This is in the context of an expected increase in the prevalence of OD due to HNC in the near future. Contributing factors to increased prevalence include aging of our European population (including HNC patients) and an increase in human papillomavirus (HPV) related cancer, despite the introduction of HPV vaccination in various countries. We recommend timely implementation of OD screening in HNC patients while emphasizing the need for robust scientific research on the treatment of OD in HNC. Meanwhile, its management remains a challenge for European professional associations and policymakers.

Effect of Postoperative High-Concentration Oxygen on Recovery After Thyroid Surgery: A Prospective, Open, Randomized, Controlled Study

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effectiveness of high-concentration oxygen on the improvement of throat symptoms and voice changes after thyroid surgery and its protection of the parathyroid function.

METHODS

A total of 600 patients undergoing thyroid surgery who met the inclusion criteria were randomly divided into the experimental group (n = 300) and the control group (n = 300) by using a random number generator. The patients in the experimental group underwent high-oxygen treatment [FiO₂80 (8 L/min)] for 6 continuous hours after returning to the ward after surgery. The patients in the control group underwent low-oxygen treatment [FiO₂30 (2 L/min)] for 6 continuous hours after returning to the ward after surgery.

RESULTS

The postoperative incision pain score of patients in the experimental group was significantly better than that in the control group at 6 h (1.07 ± 0.80 VS 1.23 ± 0.95, P=0.031) and 12 h (1.08 ± 0.64 VS 1.20 ± 0.73, P=0.041). The postoperative throat pain score of the patients in the experimental group was significantly better than that of the control group at 6 h (1.40 ± 0.85 VS 1.59 ± 0.97, P=0.011) and 12 h (1.40 ± 0.85 VS 1.59 ± 0.97, P=0.019). The PONV score of the patients in the experimental group was significantly better than that of the control group at 12 h (0.09 ± 0.19 VS 0.14 ± 0.37, P=0.024). The Voice Handicap Index score of the patients in the experimental group was significantly better than that of the control group at 24 h (2.89 ± 5.92 VS 4.10 ± 6.31, P=0.017), 36 h (2.46 ± 5.06 VS 3.43 ± 5.97, P=0.035), and 48 h (2.46 ± 5.06 VS 3.43 ± 5.97, P=0.032).

CONCLUSION

High-concentration oxygen can alleviate PONV and pain after thyroid surgery, with less severe voice changes potentially. However, its effects on swallowing function, and parathyroid function need to be further verified.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

ChiCTR-IOR-17012765 (China Clinical Trial Registry clinical trial registration center [http://www.chictr.org.cn/index.aspx).

Exploring the Validity and Operational Impact of Using Allied Health Assistants to Conduct Dysphagia Screening for Low-Risk Patients Within the Acute Hospital Setting

Purpose The purpose of this study was to examine (a) the agreement between allied health assistants (AHAs) and speech-language pathologists (SLPs) when completing dysphagia screening for low-risk referrals and at-risk patients under a delegation model and (b) the operational impact of this delegation model. Method All AHAs worked in the adult acute inpatient settings across three hospitals and completed training and competency evaluation prior to conducting independent screening. Screening (pass/fail) was based on results from pre-screening exclusionary questions in combination with a water swallow test and the Eating Assessment Tool. To examine the agreement of AHAs' decision making with SLPs, AHAs (n = 7) and SLPs (n = 8) conducted an independent, simultaneous dysphagia screening on 51 adult inpatients classified as low-risk/at-risk referrals. To examine operational impact, AHAs independently completed screening on 48 low-risk/at-risk patients, with subsequent clinical swallow evaluation conducted by an SLP with patients who failed screening. Results Exact agreement between AHAs and SLPs on overall pass/fail screening criteria for the first 51 patients was 100%. Exact agreement for the two tools was 100% for the Eating Assessment Tool and 96% for the water swallow test. In the operational impact phase (n = 48), 58% of patients failed AHA screening, with only 10% false positives on subjective SLP assessment and nil identified false negatives. Conclusion AHAs demonstrated the ability to reliably conduct dysphagia screening on a cohort of low-risk patients, with a low rate of false negatives. Data support high level of agreement and positive operational impact of using trained AHAs to perform dysphagia screening in low-risk patients.

Validation of the Yale Swallow Protocol in Post-Acute Care: A Prospective, Double-Blind, Multirater Study

Purpose A systematic approach to the diagnosis and treatment of swallowing disorders relies heavily on valid and reliable screening protocols that provide clinicians with clear and objective information. The Yale Swallow Protocol (YSP) has been shown to be a useful, valid, and reliable screening tool for aspiration risk in the acute care setting. However, the YSP was not validated for use in post-acute care. This study evaluated the clinical utility of the YSP in the post-acute care setting. Method This prospective, double-blind, multirater study included a referred sample of 240 individuals, with varying medical diagnoses, who completed the YSP and an endoscopic evaluation of swallowing. Results Sensitivity for the YSP was 95.4%, specificity was 66.9%, positive predictive value was 77.6%, and negative predictive value was 92.4%. Conclusions The data from this prospective study appear to support the use of the YSP in post-acute care due to the ability to use the protocol on virtually all patients-regardless of diagnosis-and its high sensitivity and negative predictive value.

Dysphagia screening in residential care settings: A scoping review

BACKGROUND

Older adults with dysphagia are at a higher risk of experiencing serious complications where dysphagia is not identified and adequately managed. Nursing personnel are critical for timely identification and management of dysphagia and prevention of these subsequent serious complications in residential care settings.

OBJECTIVES

To identify dysphagia screening tools used in residential care and to establish whether validated and used as per guidelines, their diagnostic accuracy and reliability and to identify the prevalence rate of dysphagia in this setting.

DESIGN

A scoping review based on Arksey & O'Malley (2005) methodological framework.

DATA SOURCES

An electronic search of databases CINAHL, Pubmed and Scopus was conducted. Reference lists were checked in all identified articles for additional studies. Peer-reviewed publications describing the process of identifying dysphagia and using a screening protocol in residential care settings were considered for inclusion.

REVIEW METHODS

All identified studies were screened by reading of titles, keywords and abstracts. Those articles that were deemed eligible for inclusion were read in full.

RESULTS

Nineteen quantitative studies and one mixed-methods study out of 1,674 articles were included in the review. Thirteen different instruments for dysphagia screening were identified, with the Modified Water Swallow Test being the most commonly used. Other diagnostic procedures, such as fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing, pulse oximetry or cervical auscultation, were implemented along with the administration of a dysphagia screening tool in six studies. The 3-Ounce Water Swallow Test, the Yale Swallow Protocol and the Gugging Swallowing Screen were identified as the instruments with the best clinical accuracy values. The reported prevalence of dysphagia in this setting ranged from 15% to 70%.

CONCLUSIONS

Formal dysphagia screening in residential care settings is not common practice. The dysphagia screening tools identified in this review are not validated for use in this setting. The implementation of dysphagia screening protocols specific to this population may facilitate identification of dysphagia and avoid complications.

Sensitivity and Specificity of Bedside Screening Tests for Detection of Aspiration in Patients Admitted to a Public Rehabilitation Hospital

Early detection of dysphagia and specifically aspiration is essential to prevent and reduce complications of hospitalized patients in rehabilitation centers. Bedside screening test are often used to evaluate swallowing disorders, but their results may be questionable due to insufficient and inconsistent sensitivity and specificity. To compare the sensitivity and specificity of various bedside screening tests for detecting aspiration in hospitalized rehabilitation patients. A prospective observational study was performed in 150 consecutive patients of a tertiary rehabilitation hospital. Patients were evaluated regarding clinical predictors for aspiration, maximum phonation time (MPT), Eating Assessment Tool 10 (EAT-10) questionnaire, tongue strength and endurance (Iowa Oral Performance Instrument [IOPI]) and a swallowing test (Volume-Viscosity Swallow Test [V-VST]). Flexible Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES) was the reference test. Of the 144 patients included, 22% aspirated on FEES. Previous history of pneumonia, dysarthria, wet voice, and abnormal cough reflex were significantly associated with aspiration. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy for V-VST (83.3%, 72.6%, 74.8%, respectively) and EAT-10 (82.8%, 57.7%, 62.8%, respectively) to detect aspiration were superior than those of other methods. Maximum tongue strength on IOPI and MPT presented high sensitivity but low specificity to detect aspiration. Clinical predictors of aspiration (previous history of pneumonia, dysarthria, wet voice, and abnormal cough reflex) associated with either V-VST or EAT-10 may be good screening methods to detect aspiration in patients hospitalized in a rehabilitation center.

Prevalence of Swallowing and Eating Difficulties in an Elderly Postoperative Hip Fracture Population-A Multi-Center-Based Pilot Study

Elderly patients operated for hip fracture are characterized by high age and high degree of comorbidity and need of care, factors previously found to be associated with swallowing and eating difficulties. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of swallowing and eating difficulties in an elderly postoperative hip fracture population and to identify factors associated with swallowing and eating difficulties. A cross-sectional multi-center pilot study was performed, including patients ≥65 years, operated for hip fracture, and able to participate in a swallowing and eating assessment. A clinical assessment was conducted using Danish versions of the standardized tools Volume-Viscosity Swallow Test and Minimal Eating Observation Form-version II. Demographic data and clinical characteristics were examined. A total of 78 patients (mean age 81.4 years (SD 7.8), 30.8% male) were included. Swallowing and eating difficulties were present in 60 patients (77%). Swallowing and eating difficulties were significantly associated with living in a nursing home before hospital admission (p = 0.014), low habitual New Mobility Score (p = 0.018), and absence of cardiac comorbidity (p = 0.023). The results underline the importance of focusing on swallowing and eating difficulties in elderly patients operated for hip fracture to ensure effectivity and safety and optimize the prognosis for the patient.

Management of dysphagia in Huntington's disease: a descriptive review

Huntington's disease (HD) is a rare neurodegenerative disorder of the central nervous system characterized by involuntary choreatic movements, cognitive, behavioral, and psychiatric disturbances. Most HD suffer from dysphagia and aspiration pneumonia is the leading cause of death. However, little is known about dysphagia management in HD. A revision of the literature was conducted to depict the state of the art on the assessment and treatment of dysphagia in HD. Literature search of the last 10 years was performed using PubMed and EMBASE. Twenty-four studies were included: 16 cross-sectional studies, 2 case reports, 2 case series, 2 open-label trials, 1 pre-post study, and 1 randomized controlled trial. Based on the studies retrieved, dysphagia should be assessed from the early stage of the disease, especially when specific clinical markers occur. Timing for dysphagia re-assessment should be based on the recommendation of the swallowing experts on the individual case. Instrumental assessment of swallowing by videofluoroscopy or videoendoscopy is feasible and recommended to diagnose dysphagia in patients with HD. Clinical assessment tools and patient-reported outcome measures may be used to complete the swallowing examination, but not to replace instrumental assessment. The impact of pharmacological and rehabilitative treatments on dysphagia in HD has been little studied in literature. While the effect of tetrabenazine on swallowing is still controversial, compensatory strategies seem to be applicable and efficacious. To date, there are no well-proven rehabilitative strategies to improve swallowing function in patients with HD. The topic of dysphagia in HD remains poorly studied compared with its clinical relevance.