Silent aspiration: results of 2,000 video fluoroscopic evaluations.

The purpose of this retrospective study of aspiration and the lack of a protective cough reflex at the vocal folds (silent aspiration) was to increase the awareness of nursing staffs of the diagnostic pathology groups associated with silent aspiration. Of the 2,000 patients evaluated in this study, 51% aspirated on the video fluoroscopic evaluation. Of the patients who aspirated, 55% had no protective cough reflex (silent aspiration).

Epiglottic dysfunction: abnormal epiglottic movement patterns.

Epiglottic movement patterns of 500 consecutive patients with varying etiologies were recorded during routine videofluoroscopic swallow evaluations. Seven distinct, commonly repeated, abnormal epiglottic patterns were identified. A multifactorial analysis of these seven abnormal epiglottic movement patterns was completed.