J Korean Acad Rehabil Med.  2008 Aug;32(4):411-416.

Clinical Findings of Swallowing Difficulties in Patients with Post-poliomyelitis Syndrome

• Han SJ
• Lee MJ
• Yoon TS
• Bae H

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the presence of swallowing difficulties in patients with post-poliomyelitis syndrome (PPS) by characterizing their swallowing patterns with videofluoroscopic swallowing study. METHOD: Eleven patients diagnosed with PPS were enrolled. All subjects answered the self assessment questionnaire for swallowing difficulty and gastric symptoms. We assessed the ability of tongue control, the oral transit time, cricopharyngeal opening time, and pharyngeal transit time. We also assessed the presence of aspiration or penetration and the amount of residue in the vallecular and pyriform sinus by four grade scales. A gastroenterologist examined esophagus, stomach and duodenum through an esophagogastroduodenoscopy.
RESULTS
Six patients complained swallowing difficulty and nine patients showed symptoms of esophageal regurgitation. Although finding of penetration or aspiration was not seen, all patients showed swallowing dysfunction in the videofluoroscopic swallowing study. In the esophagogastroduodenoscopy, chronic superficial gastritis was observed in all enrolled patients (n=11) and reflux esophagitis was found in 4 patients (36%).
CONCLUSION
About half patients with PPS complained of dysphagia. Routine evaluation of dysphagia with videofluoroscopic swallowing study and esophagogastroduodenoscopy is needed in all patients with PPS due to the low reliability in their subjective symptom.

Keyword

Dysphagia; Endoscopy; Post-poliomyelitis syndrome (PPS); Swallowing; Videofluoroscopy

MeSH Terms

Deglutition
Deglutition Disorders
Duodenum
Endoscopy
Endoscopy, Digestive System
Esophagitis, Peptic
Esophagus
Gastritis
Humans
Postpoliomyelitis Syndrome
Pyriform Sinus
Surveys and Questionnaires
Self-Assessment
Stomach
Tongue
Weights and Measures