Comments on Selected Recent Dysphagia Literature

Excerpt

This study investigated the effects of a nasogastric (NG) tube of different diameters on laryngeal penetration-aspiration, pharyngeal residue, and pharyngeal transit. Older healthy volunteers (n = 15; median age 65 years; range 60–81 years) had three videofluoroscopic swallowing studies (VFSS), i.e., no NG tube in place, fine bore NG tube, and wide bore NG tube. The no NG tube condition was done first followed by NG tubes in random order. A total of nine complete data sets were obtained. However, wide bore NG tube data were not obtained for 6/15 (40 %) participants due to intolerance, specifically, fine bore (n = 7) then wide bore (n = 4) and wide bore (n = 5) then fine bore (n = 8). Presence of an NG tube was associated with increased laryngeal penetration-aspiration (fine bore only with serial liquid and puree consistencies), increased pharyngeal residue (vallecula with both fine and wide bore with soft solid consistency and pyriform sinus with fine bore and puree consistency), and increased pharyngeal transit duration regardless of consistency. Presence of an NG tube increased laryngeal penetration-aspiration, pharyngeal residue, and prolonged pharyngeal transit durations in older healthy adults. …