Quantifying swallowing function after stroke: A functional dysphagia scale based on videofluoroscopic studies

Tai Ryoon Han, Nam Jong Paik, Jin Woo Park

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

203 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective: To develop a sensitive, specific scale for quantifying functional dysphagia in stroke patients, using results obtained from videofluoroscopic swallowing studies. Design: Data collected from a serial oral and pharyngeal videofluoroscopic swallowing study. Setting: A dysphagia clinic in a department of rehabilitation medicine at a tertiary care university hospital. Participants: One hundred three consecutively admitted stroke patients. Interventions: Videoflurorscopy to measure a scale of 11 variables: lip closure score, bolus formation, residue in oral cavity, oral transit time, triggering of pharyngeal swallow, laryngeal elevation and epiglottic closure, nasal penetration, residue in valleculae, coating of pharyngeal wall after swallow, and pharyngeal transit time. Main Outcome Measures: Polychotomous linear logistic regression analysis of videofluoroscopic and aspiration results. Scale sensitivity and specificity, and the correlation between the total score of the scale and aspiration grade were analyzed. Results: The scale's sensitivity and specificity for detecting supraglottic penetration and subglottic aspiration were 81%, 70.7%, and 78.1%, 77.9%, respectively. A significant positive correlation was found between the scale's total score and the severity of aspiration (Spearman's r = .58943, p = .00001). Conclusion: This functional dysphagia scale, which was based on a videofluoroscopic swallowing study in stroke patients, is a sensitive and specific method for quantifying the severity of dysphagia.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)677-682
Number of pages6
JournalArchives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Volume82
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - 2001

Keywords

  • Cerebrovascular accident
  • Dysphagia
  • Fluoroscopy
  • Rehabilitation

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