Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical value of assessing Pharyngeal swallowing clicited by fluid infusion Videoendoscopic examinations were performed in 126 patients with dysphagia, after injecting a fluid infusion into the pharyngeal cavity Blue dye fluid was instilled into the unilateral valleeula through a catheter that was inserted into the biopsy channel of an endoseope Pharyngeal swallowing elicited by the fluid infusion was classified according to 5 grades: grade I. normal pharyngeal swallowing; grade lla, laryngeal penetration before the triggering of pharyngeal swallowing; grade llb, pharyngeal residue after swallowing; grade lla+b; and grade III, no the pharyngeal swallowing. The recovery rates for oral intake using several approaches for dysphagia were 98% in grade I patients and 75% in grade IIb patients. However, the oral intake of food was more difficult in grade IIa, grade IIa+b and grade III patients. These results suggest that the classification of dysphagia based on the triggering and output situation of pharyngeal swallowing may be a useful guideline for demonstrating impaired oral food intake. We conclude that videoendoscopic examination using a fluid infusion is a valuable method for evaluating pharyngeal swallowing minus the influence of bolus transport from oral cavity to the pharynx.
