Oropharyngeal dysphagia after the acute phase of stroke: predictors of aspiration

Abstract

Oropharyngeal dysphagia is frequent during the acute phase of stroke, but most patients recover. Dysphagia is related to higher incidence of aspiration, pneumonia and death. Frequently neither clinical history nor neurological evaluation predicts the presence of aspiration. In 64 patients not recovered from severe stroke after the acute phase with clinically suspected oropharyngeal dysphagia we investigated: (i) the correlation between clinical manifestations and videofluoroscopic findings; (ii) predictive factors of aspiration and silent aspiration. Clinical examination showed that 44% had impaired gag reflex, 47% cough during oral feeding, and 13% changes in voice after swallowing. Videofluoroscopy revealed some abnormality in 87%: 53% in the oral phase and 84% in the pharyngeal phase (aspiration in 66%; half being silent). Impaired pharyngeal safety was more frequent in posterior territory lesions and patients with a history of pneumonia (P<0.01). No correlation was found between clinical evaluation findings and presence of aspiration. Silent aspirations were more frequent in patients with previous orotracheal intubation (P<0.05) and abnormalities in velopharyngeal reflexes (P<0.05). We concluded that in patients not recovered from severe stroke after the acute phase and with suspected oropharyngeal dysphagia, clinical evaluation is of scant use in predicting aspiration and silent aspiration. Videofluoroscopic examination is mandatory in these patients.