title: Diagnostic accuracy of bedside swallow evaluation versus videofluoroscopy to assess dysphagia in individuals with tetraplegia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the accuracy of bedside swallow evaluation (BSE) compared with videofluorosopic swallow study (VFSS) in diagnosing dysphagia in individuals with tetraplegia due to spinal cord injury (SCI).
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective diagnostic accuracy study according to STAndards for the Reporting of Diagnostic accuracy studies (STARD) criteria.
  
  
  METHODS
  A county hospital with acute inpatient SCI unit.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-nine subjects with SCI and tetraplegia were enrolled. All of the subjects underwent BSE, and 26 subjects completed the VFSS.
  
  
  METHODS
  Individuals with SCI underwent a BSE followed by a VFSS within 72 hours of the BSE. The subjects were diagnosed as having dysphagia if they had positive findings in either BSE or VFSS.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were calculated by using VFSS as the criterion standard.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifteen subjects (38%) were diagnosed as having dysphagia based on the BSE results. Among the subjects who completed the VFSS, 11 were diagnosed with dysphagia (42%) and 4 were diagnosed with aspiration (10%). Of the 26 subjects who completed both BSE and VFSS, only 1 subject was diagnosed differently compared with BSE (3.8%). Different diet recommendations were made in 4 cases after VFSS versus BSE. Different liquid recommendations were made in 8 cases after VFSS versus BSE. Sensitivity of BSE was 100% (95% confidence interval [CI], 71.5%-100%), specificity was 93.3% (95% CI, 68.1%-99.8%). A positive predictive value of BSE was 91.7% (95% CI, 61.5%-100%), and the negative predictive value was 100% (95% CI, 76.8%-100%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dysphagia is present in approximately 38% of individuals with acute tetraplegia. Because only one of the 21 subjects was diagnosed differently based on VFSS, we believe that BSE is an appropriate screening tool for dysphagia for individuals with cervical SCI. However, VFSS provided additional information on diet and liquid recommendations, so there appears to be an important clinical role for the VFSS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, 751 South Bascom Ave, San Jose, CA 95128, USA. Kazuko.Shem@hhs.sccgov.org
authors.forename: Kazuko L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Shem
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Castillo
authors.forename: Sandra Lynn
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Ming-Chih
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Kao
authors.forename: Stephanie A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Kolakowsky-Hayner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003679:Deglutition / Q000502:physiology*; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005471:Fluoroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019095:Point-of-Care Systems / Q000592:standards*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011782:Quadriplegia / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012372:ROC Curve; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014741:Video Recording