Application of video fluoroscopic swallowing study combined with fiberoptic endoscopic examination of swallowing in the diagnosis of dysphagia after stroke

Objective To evaluate the application of video fluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) combined with fiberoptic endoscopic examination of swallowing (FEES) in the diagnosis of patients with dysphagia after stroke. Methods A total of 34 stroke patients with dysphagia who were admitted in the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University were enrolled. All patients underwent both VFSS and FEES. Results VFSS results showed that 25 cases of oral dysphagia, 30 cases of pharyngeal dysphagia (including 28 cases of weakness in the constrictor muscle of pharynx,15 cases of weakness for tongue base retraction, 28 cases of poor motor ability in epiglottic turnover, 28 cases of detention, 23 cases of leakage, 8 cases of recessive aspiration, and 10 cases of dominant aspiration), and 17 cases of esophageal dysphagia (including 10 cases of incomplete opening of the cricopharyngeal muscle, 5 cases of complete closure of the cricopharyngeal muscle, and 2 cases of esophageal reflux). FEES results showed that there were 25 cases of weakness in the constrictor muscle of pharynx, 24 cases of poor motor ability in epiglottic turnover, 27 cases of detention, 21 cases of malocclusion of the glottis, 23 cases of leakage, and15 cases of aspiration, in addition to 4 cases of vocal cord neoplasm and laryngeal cancer. Conclusions In the diagnosis of pharyngeal dysphagia, the detection rate of VFSS combined with FEES is basically the same, which is complementary. VFSS can evaluate from oral stage to esophageal stage, while FEES can observe at the pharynx in a more direct manner.