The Safety of Videofluoroscopic Swallowing Study (VFSS)

Han, Tai Ryoon; Paik, Nam Jong; Park, Jin Woo

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
The risk of barium aspiration has been reported through animal and clinical studies. Although the barium aspiration occurs frequently during videofluoroscopic barium swallowing study (VFSS) that is used in a standard method for diagnosis of dysphagia, there has been no research about the risk of VFSS. METHOD: One hundred VFSS of sixty nine patients were analyzed prospectively. The patients were diagnosed to dysphagia clinically. VFSS findings were classified into 5 groups according to the severity of aspiration. The incidences of complications, such as fever (>38.3oC), leukocytosis (>10,000), dyspnea and abnormality of chest roentgenogram within 24hours after VFSS were determined in each group. Odds ratios of complications after VFSS for severity of their findings were calculated.
RESULTS
The complications of VFSS are as follows; five febrile conditions, three leukocytosis and three dyspnea among 100 VFSS cases. Odds ratios for complications were over 1 except for the abnormality of chest roentgenogram, but which was not statistically significant.
CONCLUSION
The incidence of complication after VFSS was 5% in dysphagic patients. But the severity of complication was mild and there was no statistical significance between complication and aspiration on VFSS, so VFSS was a relatively safe procedure.