Ultrasonic assessment of swallowing in patients with oropharyngeal dysphagia

Oropharyngeal dysphagia is a swallowing disorder seen as a symptom of many neurological disorders such as stroke, traumatic brain injury, Parkinsonism, neuromuscular diseases as well as pathologies of head and neck region. Videofluoroscopic Swallowing Study and Fiberoptic Endoscopic Swallowing Study are two objective methods most frequently used in swallowing assessment. However, these methods have some practical limitations. Although not an alternative to these methods, ultrasonographic imaging is recommended as a practical complementary assessment tool. The aim of this study is to compare swallowing mechanisms of individuals with oropharyngeal dysphagia with those of healthy individuals via ultrasonographic imaging method. The participants of the study consist of 16 individuals diagnosed with oropharyngeal dysphagia at Deglutition Disorders Clinic of Yunus Emre Public Hospital Mavi Hospital Campus and 20 healthy counterparts. First, swallowing and nutritional conditions of participants were determined through the instruments of Dysphagia Handicap Index, Eating Assessment Tool and Mini Nutritional Assessment. Then motion duration and motion range of the muscles of the mouth floor were evaluated and compared between groups via ultrasonographic imaging during intake of 3 different volumes of water. Results showed that motion duration of muscles of the mouth floor was significantly higher for all volumes in participants with dysphagia compared to control group (p<.000). Motion range of muscles of the mouth floor was found to be not significantly different between groups across all levels of water volume (p>.05).