This study retrospectively investigated the value of both endoscopically visible oropharyngeal secretions in the hypopharynx and miss-swallowing frequency in the prediction of food and liquid aspiration. Videoendoscopy was performed in Fourty-three patients. A four-level rating scale was employed to determine the severity of accumulated oropharyngeal secretions. On this secretion scale patients graded 0 and 1 could eat, but those graded 3 could not. It was found that the accumulation of endoscopically visible oropharyngeal secretions located within the laryngeal vestibule was highly predictive of the aspiration of food or liquid. The Results are discussed in terms of integrating this information with clinical bedside examinations.
