Early Pulmonary Complications after Videofluoroscopic Examination of Swallowing

VernacularTitle:嚥下造影検査後の早期呼吸器合併症についての検討
Author: Takashi TANAKA ; Hitoshi KAGAYA ; Michio YOKOYAMA ; Eiichi SAITOH ; Mikoto BABA
Publication Type:Journal Article
Keywords: videofluoroscopic examination of swallowing; pneumonia; fever; barium sulfate
From:The Japanese Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine 2010;47(5):320-323
CountryJapan
Language:Japanese
Abstract: Videofluoroscopic examination of swallowing (VF) is widely used for evaluating swallowing function. However, pulmonary complications after VF are seldom evaluated. We checked residual barium sulfate on chest X-rays and early pulmonary complication after VF. One hundred and ninety-eight patients underwent VF and chest X-rays. Eighty-six patients who did not aspirate during VF had no residual barium on their chest X-rays. One hundred and twelve patients aspirated during VF, but only 40 of these patients showed residual barium on their chest X-rays. Ten patients had fever after VF, but no significant relationship was observed between fever and residual barium on chest X-rays or aspiration. Aspiration was not correlated with mobility or cognitive status. One case had pneumonia after VF, but VF did not seem to be the cause of the pneumonia. In conclusion, no severe early pulmonary complications after VF were observed. It is difficult to predict early pulmonary complications from chest X-rays.