The association of swallowing dysfunction and aspiration pneumonia.
The medical literature has emphasized that aspiration of gastric contents or oral bacteria is a common cause of aspiration pneumonia. Swallowing disorders have been implicated in this disease but not studied at the time that aspiration pneumonia was diagnosed. A significant difference was found in the incidence of videofluoroscopically confirmed oropharyngeal swallowing problems in a group of patients diagnosed with aspiration pneumonia (AP) when compared with patients with nonaspiration pneumonia (NAP). Six of the 9 patients in the AP group aspirated during the videofluoroscopic evaluation and 2 others were considered to be at risk for aspiration. None of the 7 NAP patients demonstrated swallowing problems or aspiration. A significant difference in oral transit time also occurred between the two groups. Liquid was found to have a significantly faster oral transit time than paste or a cookie. Pharyngeal transit times were not found to be significantly different. Although there were only a small number of patients who met the criteria for this pilot study, a strong association was found between swallowing dysfunction and aspiration pneumonia.
Martin
B J
BJ
Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53295.
Corlew
M M
MM
Wood
H
H
Olson
D
D
Golopol
L A
LA
Wingo
M
M
Kirmani
N
N
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002933:Cineradiography; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003679:Deglutition / Q000502:physiology; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005471:Fluoroscopy; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009960:Oropharynx / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D010608:Pharyngeal Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D011015:Pneumonia, Aspiration / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D013997:Time Factors; D014741:Video Recording
D003287:Contrast Media