Super-supraglottic swallow in irradiated head and neck cancer patients

Jeri A. Logemann*, Barbara Roa Pauloski, Alfred W. Rademaker, Laura A. Colangelo

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

91 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background. After radiotherapy to the head and neck, many patients experience swallowing difficulties. Preliminary work indicates that these patients benefit from the supersupraglottic 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 swallow disorders were observed with the maneuver. Conclusion. The super-supraglottic swallow results in improved biomechanics of swallow in irradiated head and neck cancer patients.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)535-540
Number of pages6
JournalHead and Neck
Volume19
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 1997

Keywords

  • Head and neck
  • Radiotherapy
  • Swallow maneuvers
  • Swallowing
  • Videofluoroscopy

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Otorhinolaryngology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Super-supraglottic swallow in irradiated head and neck cancer patients'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this