A Novel Method for the Nonradiological Assessment of Ineffective Swallowing

RESULTS: In all, 76 patient swallows (35 with residue) and 39 control swallows (12 with residue) were analyzed. Different functional variables were found to be altered in relation to residue. In both controls and patients, fl ow interval was longer in relation to residue. In controls, but not patients, residue was associated with an increased PNadImp (suggestive of increased pharyngeal IBP). Controls with residue had increased UES-IBP, NadUESP, and UES resistance compared with patients with residue. Residue in patients was related to a prolonged UES-RI. The SRI was elevated in relation to residue in both controls and patients and an average SRI of 9 was optimally predictive of residue (sensitivity 75 % and specifi city 80 % ). CONCLUSIONS: We present novel fi ndings in control subjects and dysphagic patients showing that combined manometry and impedance recordings can be objectively analyzed to derive pressure-fl ow variables that are altered in relation to the bolus residual and can be combined to predict ineffective pharyngeal swallowing.