title: Otolaryngology and speech therapy evaluation in the assessment of oropharyngeal dysphagia: a combined protocol proposal.
abstract: Dysphagia is a symptom associated with an array of anatomical and functional changes which must be assessed by a multidisciplinary team to guarantee optimal evaluation and treatment, preventing potential complications.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study is to present the combined protocol of clinical and swallowing videoendoscopy carried by ENT doctors and speech therapists in the Dysphagia Group of the ENT Department - University Hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study concerning the use of a protocol made up of patient interview and clinical examination, followed by an objective evaluation with swallowing videoendoscopy. The exam was performed in 1,332 patients from May 2001 to December 2008. There were 726 (54.50%) males and 606 (45.50%) females, between 22 days and 99 years old.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found: 427 (32.08%) cases of normal swallowing, 273 (20.48%) mild dysphagia, 224 (16.81%) moderate dysphagia, 373 (27.99%) severe dysphagia and 35 (2.64%) inconclusive exams.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The combined protocol (Otolaryngology and Speech Therapy), is a good way to approach the dysphagic patient, helping to achieve early and safe deglutition diagnosis as far as disorder severity and treatment are concerned.
authors.affiliation: University of São Paulo Medical School, Sao Paulo, Brazil. psantoro@interotos.com.br
authors.forename: Patrícia Paula
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Santoro
authors.forename: Cristina Lemos Barbosa
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Furia
authors.forename: Ana Paola
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Forte
authors.forename: Elza Maria
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Lemos
authors.forename: Roberta Ismael
authors.initials: RI
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.forename: Raquel Aguiar
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Tavares
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Imamura
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010036:Otolaryngology / Q000379:methods*; D010348:Patient Care Team; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013070:Speech Therapy