Dysphagia
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Comparative Study
Effects of the removal of the tracheotomy tube on swallowing during the fiberoptic endoscopic exam of the swallow (FEES).
This study investigated the effects, if any, that the presence of a tracheotomy tube has on the incidence of laryngeal penetration and aspiration in patients with a known or suspected dysphagia. This was a prospective, repeated-measure design study. A total of 37 consecutive patients with a tracheotomy tube underwent a fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES). ⋯ Laryngeal penetration status was in agreement with and without the tracheotomy tube in place in 78% (29/37) of the patients. For the majority of the patients, the removal of the tracheotomy tube made no difference in the incidence of aspiration and/or laryngeal penetration. Results of this study do not support the clinical notion that the patient's swallowing function will improve once the tracheotomy tube has been removed.
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A 48-year-old man was referred for the evaluation of dysphagia and syncope. He suffered from both dysphagia and transient loss of consciousness when eating solid food, especially bread. An upper gastrointestinal barium examination and esophageal manometry suggested achalasia. ⋯ A permanent pacemaker was implanted and the patient's syncopal attacks were relieved following this procedure. However, the dysphagia and cardiac arrhythmia completely disappeared only following a successful pneumatic balloon dilatation for achalasia. This observation suggests that swallowing-induced sinus bradycardia and syncope might occur in the course of achalasia and these rhythm abnormalities could be relieved by successful treatment of the achalasia.
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Comparative Study
Effect of tactile stimulation on lingual motor function in pediatric lingual dysphagia.
There is a scarcity of empirical evidence on effective treatments of swallowing dysfunction in young children who do not suck or swallow. There is no literature testing the effects of shaping a reflex or specifically shaping a swallow reflex. The purpose of this retrospective study was to investigate and isolate the specific regional mechanical functions of the tongue during swallowing. ⋯ The initial tactile stimulus and six-level sequential stimuli resulted in six sequential lingual responses within each wavelike swallow reflex. Results of stimuli shaping varied lingual responses across 45 patients with severe multiple medical and anatomical deficits in swallowing, suggest that the etiology was not relevant in this population. These behavioral science approaches are novel treatment for pediatric lingual dysphagia.
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We present a case of a displaced superior cornu of the thyroid cartilage causing odynophagia and a foreign body sensation of the pharynx. Diagnosis was made by computed tomography (CT) scan and confirmed by direct endoscopic examination. We review the literature that addresses possible etiologies of this variant anatomy and review treatment options.