Two-dimensional perceptual videofluoroscopic swallowing analysis of the pharyngeal phase in patients older than 50 years.

Background: Videofluoroscopy is considered the "gold standard" procedure for the evaluation of swallowing by most units that treat patients with dysphagia, having a great impact in decision making, not only in therapeutic terms, but also in determining the prognosis.

Aim: To propose and to verify the reproducibility of the results of a perceptual two-dimensional videofluoroscopic protocol for the analysis of the pharyngeal phase of swallowing in a population of healthy adults.

Methods: Participants were 20 healthy adults, of both genders, with ages between 50 and 65 years. Videofluoroscopy was performed during the swallow of the following consistencies: 10 ml of liquid; 7 ml of paste; and half a "salt and water" biscuit. The protocol was composed by four parts: assessment of the pharyngeal transit time; assessment of the duration of the tongue base movement to the posterior pharyngeal wall; valleculae residue ratio; assessment of penetration/aspiration. Statistical analysis involved the assessment of data reproducibility between raters and analysis of the quantitative data regarding gender.

Results: Comparison among raters indicated that data was highly reproducible. No significant differences were found between genders for pharyngeal transit time; for the duration of the tongue base movement to the posterior pharyngeal wall; and for the valleculae residue ratio.

Conclusion: The perceptual two-dimensional videofluoroscopy analysis demonstrated to be a reproducible method. Valleculae residue was present in 40% of the study sample, suggesting that this parameter alone does not indicate alterations of the pharyngeal phase of swallowing.