Effects of flexible fiberoptic endoscopy on pharyngeal swallow physiology.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to determine if the presence of a flexible fiberoptic endoscope in the pharynx affects swallow physiology.


METHODS
This was a prospective cohort study.


METHODS
Fourteen individuals with normal swallow function, 23 to 83 years of age, completed a videofluoroscopic swallow study with and without a 3.5 mm flexible fiberoptic endoscope maintained in the "high" position, ie, below the velopharyngeal port and above the epiglottis. Each study was analyzed for three swallow duration measures, number of swallows necessary to clear the bolus, and penetration-aspiration scale scores.


RESULTS
No significant (P > 0.05) main effects for condition were found for swallow duration, penetration-aspiration scale scores and number of swallows to clear the bolus.


CONCLUSIONS
The presence of a flexible fiberoptic endoscope in the pharynx during swallowing did not significantly affect pharyngeal swallow physiology in the patients studied, but we cannot exclude a false-negative conclusion because of low statistical power.
School of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN 38105, USA. dsuiter@memphis.edu
Debra M
DM
Suiter
Mary Katherine
MK
Moorhead
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001466:Barium Sulfate; D002933:Cineradiography / Q000379:methods; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003287:Contrast Media; D003679:Deglutition / Q000502:physiology*; D019723:Endoscopes; D005336:Fiber Optic Technology / Q000295:instrumentation; D006801:Humans; D007830:Larynx / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D010614:Pharynx / Q000502:physiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013997:Time Factors
D003287:Contrast Media; D001466:Barium Sulfate