Blowing time ratio and high-resolution manometry to evaluate swallowing function of patients with oral and oropharyngeal cancer

OBJECTIVE

The blowing time ratio, which is the ratio of the blowing time when the nostrils are open and closed, is significantly correlated with velopharyngeal pressure, not only during speech but also during swallowing. This study aimed to further evaluate the usefulness of the blowing time ratio as a screening tool to evaluate the swallowing pressure of patients treated for oral and oropharyngeal cancers using high-resolution manometery (HRM).

METHODS

Ten patients treated for oral or oropharyngeal cancer were recruited for this study. Swallowing pressures at the velopharynx, oropharynx, and upper esophageal sphincter (UES) were measured using HRM. Their correlations with the blowing time ratio were analyzed.

RESULTS

The blowing time ratio was significantly correlated with the swallowing pressures of the oropharynx (CC = 0.815, p = 0.004) and the velopharynx (CC = 0.657, p = 0.039), but not of the UES.

CONCLUSIONS

The present results further support our previous finding that the blowing time ratio is a useful screening tool to evaluate velopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swallowing pressures in patients treated for oral and oropharyngeal cancer.

Evaluation of the pharynx and upper esophageal sphincter motility using high-resolution pharyngeal manometry for Parkinson's disease

Parkinson's disease (PD) is associated with a high incidence of dysphagia. Aspiration pneumonia due to dysphagia is a major cause of death in patients with PD, and therefore accurately evaluating dysphagia should help improve prognosis. It has been reported that the severity of dysphagia does not always correlate with the Hoehn and Yahr (H&Y) stage for classifying PD severity. However, no reports have quantitatively evaluated the relationship between severity of dysphagia and H&Y stage. High-resolution pharyngeal manometry (HRPM) is a quantitative method that can be used to measure swallowing pressure from the velopharynx to the entry of the upper esophageal sphincter (UES). We used HRPM to measure swallowing pressure in 51 patients with PD. As PD progresses, atrophy and degeneration of the pharyngeal muscles become more pronounced, which contributes to dysphagia. However, thus far there is no quantitative clinical evidence for this pathological change. To evaluate the relationship between severity of underlying PD and dysphagia, patients were categorized by H&Y stage, as follows: stage II in four patients, stage III in 23, stage IV in 14, and stage V in 10. In patients with H&Y stages II, III, IV, and V, the respective velopharyngeal pressures were 179.8 ± 32.5, 157.6 ± 62.2, 172.2 ± 48.9, and 107.4 ± 44.0 mmHg, the mesopharyngeal pressures were 126.8 ± 53.2, 121.6.1 ± 50.4, 142.1 ± 57.8, and 61.4 ± 19.6 mmHg, the residual UES pressure were -8.0 ± 10.8, 10.3 ± 16.1, 16.5 ± 37.9, and 11.2 ± 16.2 mmHg, and the resting UES pressure were 49.5 ± 30.0, 15.8 ± 25.7, 1.85 ± 14.1, and -1.2 ± 12.2 mmHg. Patients with severe PD demonstrated significantly decreased velopharyngeal and oropharyngeal pressures, along with incomplete UES opening and contraction. HRPM can detect subtle abnormalities by quantifying swallowing pressure in patients with PD. Evaluating swallowing pressure with HRPM provides insights into neuromuscular dysfunction that causes abnormal pressure generation during pharyngeal swallowing in patients with PD.

The effect of a chin-down maneuver after esophagectomy on oropharyngeal swallowing pressure measured using high-resolution manometry

OBJECTIVE

To elucidate the effects of a chin-down maneuver using high-resolution manometry (HRM) to measure pharyngeal swallowing pressure (SP) after esophagectomy.

METHODS

We evaluated 9 of 16 patients who underwent esophagectomy featuring gastric tube reconstruction and three-field lymph node dissection (3FL) in our Department of Gastroenterological Surgery from September 2015 to June 2016. We compared all parameters of the neutral and chin-down positions using HRM to measure the maximum SP at the velopharynx, meso-hypopharynx, and upper esophageal sphincter (UES) and the duration of lowered SP at the UES, the distance from nostrils to the boundary between hypopharynx and UES and to derive SP and SP propagation curves at various distances from the nostrils.

RESULTS

Compared to that at the neutral position, the maximum SP at the velopharynx was significantly lower in the chin-down position (p<0.05); however, SP at the meso-hypopharynx and UES did not differ significantly. The duration of lowered SP at the UES was significantly prolonged in the chin-down position and the distance from nostrils to the boundary between hypopharynx and UES was significantly shortened representing the elevation of the larynx, respectively (p<0.05, p<0.01). On the SP propagation curve for males, the times to SP peaks at 13, 16, 17, and 18cm from the nostrils were significantly prolonged (all p<0.05) in the chin-down position.

CONCLUSION

Chin-down positioning after esophagectomy/3FL may improve bolus passage by prolonging the duration of lowered SP at the UES, possibly by enhancing laryngeal elevation.

Relationships Among Rheological, Sensory Texture, and Swallowing Pressure Measurements of Hydrocolloid-Thickened Fluids

The objective of this study was to examine the relationships among three categories of measurements (rheological, sensory texture, and swallowing pressure) from fluids thickened to two different viscosities with 15 different hydrocolloids. Fluids at viscosities of 300 and 1500 cP (at 30 s(-1)) were targeted because these are the viscosities corresponding to the barium standards used in radiographic dysphagia diagnosis. Within the low viscosity (nectar) fluids (300 cP), the sensory properties thickness, stickiness, adhesiveness, mouth coating, and number of swallows were highly positively correlated with each other and highly positively correlated with the flow behavior index, n value (an indicator of shear-thinning behavior). Within the higher viscosity (thin honey) fluids (1500 cP), the sensory textures of adhesiveness, stickiness, mouth coating, and number of swallows correlated positively with rheological measures of n value. Swallowing pressures measured in the anterior oral cavity correlated negatively with the consistency coefficient k [shear stress/(shear rate) (n) ]. Samples that were more shear thinning (lower n values, higher k values) were generally perceived as less thick, with less adhesive properties (stickiness, adhesiveness, mouthcoating, and number of swallows). This information can be useful for selecting thickeners for people with dysphagia. A desirable thickener for many dysphagic patients would be one that allowed for a safe swallow by being viscous enough to reduce airway penetration, yet pleasant to drink, having the minimal perceived thickness and mouthcoating associated with greater shear thinning.

Propagation Curve and Velocity of Swallowing Pressure in Healthy Young Adults

The objective of this study is to construct a propagation curve and determine propagation velocities in young healthy adults examined using a 2.64-mm-diameter high-resolution manometry catheter with 36 circumferential sensors; to explore data reproducibility; and to determine whether the swallowing pressure (SP) propagation velocity correlated with bolus volume. Repeated measures with subjects serving as their own controls. Thirty healthy subjects (average age 25.3 years) swallowed saliva and 2, 5, and 10 mL of cold water to determine the maximum SP from the soft palate to the cervical esophagus. The SP propagation curve was obtained by plotting the duration to reach each SP peak. The SP propagation velocity was calculated for each region. These parameters were examined according to bolus size and gender. The intra-class correlation coefficient for estimating the SP propagation curves was >0.61 (i.e., highly consistent). The propagation velocity was maximal at the meso-hypopharynx and minimal at the UES and cervical esophagus. The SP propagation curve was very reproducible within any subject. Neither the water volume (with the exception of 2 and 5 mL) nor gender exerted any apparent effect on velocity in any region. However, the velocity was quite variable at the cervical esophagus.

Tongue dysfunction in neurological and neuromuscular disorders: A narrative literature review

Evaluation of oral function is useful for tracking longitudinal changes in swallowing function. Using videofluoroscopic (VF) images, we can evaluate swallowing function, but it is extremely difficult to quantitatively evaluate the oral phase. Recently, several studies have tried to quantitatively assess tongue function by analyzing tongue movement on VF images, to measure tongue thickness by ultrasonography, and to measure tongue pressure as surrogate for tongue strength. In this review article, the current state of quantitative assessments of tongue function for identification and management of dysphagia in patients with neuromuscular and other neurological disorders (NNMD) has been outlined. Disturbed bolus transport in patients with NNMD has been quantitatively measured on VF images by analyzing tongue base movement and bolus transport from the mouth to the pharynx. Enlarged tongue in Duchenne muscular dystrophy patients were observed by measuring the transverse width of the tongue on ultrasound. Tongue pressures that were measured using a handheld probe in NNMD patients were less than half of those in healthy subjects. More studies are needed to develop guidelines what types of tongue dysfunction give an indication of adjusting diet and introducing tube feeding to NNMD patients.

Swallowing pressure and pressure profiles in young healthy adults

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS

To measure the swallowing pressure (SP) of normal subjects using a 2.64-mm-diameter high-resolution manometry (HRM) catheter with 36 circumferential sensors.

STUDY DESIGN

Repeated measures with subjects serving as controls.

METHODS

Thirty healthy subjects swallowed water at different temperatures and volumes to examine the maximum SP at the velopharynx, meso-hypopharynx, upper esophageal sphincter (UES), and cervical esophagus, and the duration of lowered pressure at the UES.

RESULTS

The maximum SP at any location was unaffected by the volume of water, whereas the maximum SP at the UES and cervical esophagus was affected by the temperature. The duration of lowered SP at the UES was significantly prolonged with 10 versus 2 mL of cold water. The pressure curve in males had two peaks (at the velopharynx and UES), whereas that of females had a single peak at the UES.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data obtained with 2.64-mm HRM demonstrated that as the bolus volume is increased, the duration of lowered SP at the UES is prolonged. The higher maximum SP at the velopharynx in males versus females suggests that there may be a gender difference in pressure at the velopharynx that has not been described previously. This implies that it is necessary to take gender differences into consideration when evaluating the etiology of swallowing dysfunction by examining the SP and SP curve. Moreover, the thinner catheter is less invasive and may contribute to obtaining more physiological measurements.