HEAPHY 1 & 2

DIAGNOSTIC

Deborah McKELLAR

Fri 30th Aug 2013

Session 2 / Talk 2

11:05 – 11:22

ABSTRACT

This presentation will give a brief outline of the reasons SLT’s perform VFSS and what we aim to achieve. We will explore the clinical view required and some of the barriers to achieving this. Case studies will be presented.

Videofluoroscopy Study of Swallowing (VFSS)

Deborah McKellar

Clinical Leader Speech Language Therapy

Waikato Hospital

What do SLT’s do?

• Communication

• Swallowing– Assessment– Advice/recommendations– Rehabilitation

Swallowing Assessments

• “Bedside” assessment– Silent aspiration risk

• Objective assessment– FEES (fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of

swallowing)– VFSS (videofluoroscopic study of swallowing)

FEES

Videofluoroscopic Study of Swallowing

• Sometimes referred to as Modified Barium Swallow

VFSS

VFSS vs Barium Swallow

• VFSS– Focus on anatomy and physiology of oral, pharyngeal,

laryngeal and upper oesophageal parameters.– Uses a variety of foods, fluids and strategies.– Performed by radiologist and/or SLT.

• Barium swallow– Examines the upper gastrointestinal tract focusing on

esophagus and stomach.– Identifies motility issues or structural abnormalities in the

oesophagus.– Performed by radiologist.

Why do we do VFSS?

• Investigate cause/physiology of dysphagia• To guide dysphagia rehabilitation• Assess for aspiration risk – silent aspiration• Where clinical condition does not match the clinical

swallowing evaluation

Not everyone with dysphagia needs a VFSS

What we do?

• Trial a variety of consistencies of food/fluid• Trial strategies e.g. chin tuck, head turn• Trial different delivery methods• Assess fatigue effects

What are we looking at?

• Oral parameters

• Oral transit parameters

• Pharyngeal parameters

• Crico-oesophogeal parameters

• Laryngeal parameters

A normal swallow

What do we look for?

• Aspiration – before, during or after the swallow

• Difficulty controlling food/fluid in the mouth• Difficulty initiating the swallow• Residue after the swallow – unable to clear pharynx

Aspiration

• Not an automatic reason to stop the procedure

• “a degree of aspiration may be necessary in order to gain a clear assessment of swallow physiology”

• May need to trial other strategies and consistencies

What do we need to see?

• Need to view mouth, pharynx, laryngx and upper oesophagus

• Need to see the start of the swallow• Often will need to keep screening after the swallow• AP view is often required – symmetry• Oesophageal screen

Limitations

• Patient mobility/sitting balance• Patient co-operation• Equipment logistics• Shoulders

NZSTA recommendations

• Must have a swallowing/feeding evaluation before the VFSS

• SLTs should have access to high quality images and slow motion playback

• SLTs are not qualified to make medical diagnosis or identify structural deviations

Videopalatogram

• Looks at palate movement (velopharyngeal closure) during speech

• Small amount of barium squirted into patient’s nose to coat structures

• Synched speech and video required• Aids in decisions regarding palate surgery (surgery

vs speech therapy)

• NZSTA Clinical Practice Guideline on Videofluoroscopic Study of Swallowing (VFSS) April 2011

• The Dynamic Swallow DVD