Barium swallow study in routine clinical practice: a prospective study in patients with chronic cough.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the routine use of barium swallow study in patients with chronic cough.


METHODS
Between October of 2011 and March of 2012, 95 consecutive patients submitted to chest X-ray due to chronic cough (duration > 8 weeks) were included in the study. For study purposes, additional images were obtained immediately after the oral administration of 5 mL of a 5% barium sulfate suspension. Two radiologists systematically evaluated all of the images in order to identify any pathological changes. Fisher's exact test and the chi-square test for categorical data were used in the comparisons.


RESULTS
The images taken immediately after barium swallow revealed significant pathological conditions that were potentially related to chronic cough in 12 (12.6%) of the 95 patients. These conditions, which included diaphragmatic hiatal hernia, esophageal neoplasm, achalasia, esophageal diverticulum, and abnormal esophageal dilatation, were not detected on the images taken without contrast. After appropriate treatment, the symptoms disappeared in 11 (91.6%) of the patients, whereas the treatment was ineffective in 1 (8.4%). We observed no complications related to barium swallow, such as contrast aspiration.


CONCLUSIONS
Barium swallow improved the detection of significant radiographic findings related to chronic cough in 11.5% of patients. These initial findings suggest that the routine use of barium swallow can significantly increase the sensitivity of chest X-rays in the detection of chronic cough-related etiologies.
Santa Casa Hospital Complex in Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
Carlos Shuler
CS
Nin
Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Edson
E
Marchiori
NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital, Liverpool, United Kingdom.
Klaus Loureiro
KL
Irion
Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
Artur de Oliveira
Ade O
Paludo
Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Brazil.
Giordano Rafael Tronco
GR
Alves
Santa Casa Hospital Complex in Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
Daniela Reis
DR
Hochhegger
Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
Bruno
B
Hochhegger
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001466:Barium Sulfate; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003287:Contrast Media; D003371:Cough / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003679:Deglutition; D004935:Esophageal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006551:Hernia, Hiatal / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011859:Radiography; D055815:Young Adult
D003287:Contrast Media; D001466:Barium Sulfate