title: Clinical and fiberoptic endoscopic assessment of swallowing in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is characterized by progressive and partially reversible obstruction of pulmonary airflow.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To characterize swallowing in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and correlate the findings with the degree chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart and respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, and smoking.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a prospective cohort study of 19 patients (12 men and 7 women; age range, 50-85 years) with confirmed medical diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. This study was performed in 2 stages (clinical evaluation and functional assessment using nasolaryngofibroscopy) on the same day. During both stages, vital signs were checked by medical personnel.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Clinical evaluation of swallowing in all patients showed the clinical signs of cough. The findings of nasolaryngofibroscopy highlighted subsequent intraoral escape in 5 patients (26.5%). No patient had tracheal aspiration. There was no association of subsequent intraoral escape with degree of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart and respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, or smoking.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, there was a prevalence of oral dysphagia upon swallowing and nasolaryngofibroscopy highlighted the finding of subsequent intraoral escape. There was no correlation between intraoral escape and the degree of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart and respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, or smoking.
authors.affiliation: Speech Therapist. Masters in Communication Disorders from the University of Paraná Tuiuti.
authors.forename: Marina Rodrigues Bueno
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Macri
authors.affiliation: Degree in Mathematics. Doctorate in Geodetic Sciences from the Federal University of Paraná (HC-UFPR).
authors.forename: Jair Mendes
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Marques
authors.affiliation: Speech Therapist. Student Doctorate in Internal Medicine from the HC-UFPR.
authors.forename: Rosane Sampaio
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.affiliation: Speech Therapist. Doctorate in Human Communication Disorders from the Federal University of Sao Paulo.
authors.forename: Ana Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Furkim
authors.affiliation: Doctor. Pulmonologist.
authors.forename: Irinei
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Melek
authors.affiliation: Doctor. Otolaryngologist.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rispoli
authors.affiliation: Speech Therapist. Student Doctorate in Internal Medicine from the HC-UFPR.
authors.forename: Maria Cristina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: de Alencar Nunes
keywords: Chronic Obstructive; Deglutition Disorders; Heart Rate; Pulmonary Disease; Respiration; Respiratory Rate; Smoking