Development and evaluation of screening dysphagia tools for observational studies and routine care in cancer patients.

Background And Aims: Dysphagia can be associated with significant morbidity in cancer patients. We aimed to develop and evaluate dysphagia screener tools for use in observational studies (phase 1) and for routine symptom monitoring in clinical care (phase 2).

Methods: Various dysphagia or odynophagia screening questions, selected after an expert panel reviewed the content, criterion, and construct validity, were compared with either functional assessment of cancer therapy - esophageal cancer (FACT-E) Swallowing Index Cut-Off Values or to questions adapted from the Patient Reported Outcomes for Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events.

Is indexed preoperative superior vena cava blood flow a risk factor in patients undergoing bidirectional cavopulmonary shunt?

Background: This study evaluated the effect of a new measurement-superior vena cava (SVC) flow-and anatomic factors on postoperative arterial oxygen saturation and clinical outcome in patients who underwent bidirectional cavopulmonary shunt (BCPS).

Methods: We reviewed 19 patients who underwent a BCPS between January 2009 and May 2011 who also had SVC blood flow measurements. Median age was 6 months (range, 2 to 29 months).