Super-supraglottic swallow in irradiated head and neck cancer patients.

Background: After radiotherapy to the head and neck, many patients experience swallowing difficulties. Preliminary work indicates that these patients benefit from the super-supraglottic swallow maneuver.

Methods: Lateral videofluoroscopic studies examined oropharyngeal swallowing in 9 patients who suffered from dysphagia after radiation to the head and neck. Each patient completed two swallows each of 1 mL or 3 mL liquid barium without a voluntary swallow maneuver and with the super-supraglottic swallow designed to close the entrance to the airway early. The videotape of each swallow was digitized and the location of pharyngeal structures marked throughout the swallow. Movement over time plots were generated to measure changes in structural movement resulting from the maneuver.

Results: The super-supraglottic swallow resulted in changes in airway entrance closure and hyolaryngeal movement. One patient who aspirated without the maneuver stopped aspirating with the maneuver. Two others had aspiration reduced to a trace with the maneuver. Fewer swallowing disorders were observed with the maneuver.

Conclusion: The super-supraglottic swallow results in improved biomechanics of swallow in irradiated head and neck cancer patients.