Respiratory‐swallow coordination and swallowing impairment in head and neck cancer. Issue 5 (25th January 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hopkins‐Rossabi, Theresa; Armeson, Kent E.; Zecker, Steven G.; Martin‐Harris, Bonnie
• Is Part Of: Head & neck. Volume 43:Issue 5(2021)
• Page Start: 1398
• Page End: 1408
• Publication Date: 2021-01-25
• Subjects: dysphagia -- head and neck cancer -- lung volume -- respiratory‐swallow phase patterns -- swallowing impairment; Head -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Neck -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Head -- Periodicals; Neck -- Periodicals; Face -- Periodicals; 617.51059
• DOI: 10.1002/hed.26609
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1043-3074

Abstract

Abstract: Background: The aim of the study was to determine the link between frequency of optimal respiratory‐swallow coordination, swallowing impairment, and airway invasion in head and neck cancer (HNC) patients. Method: A cross‐sectional study of a heterogeneous group of HNC patients (49), precancer (N = 30) or postcancer treatment (N = 29), participated in a single Modified Barium Swallow Study (MBSS) with synchronized respiratory data. Results: Spearman correlation coefficients revealed significant negative correlations between optimal respiratory‐swallow phase pattern and objective measures of swallowing impairment: penetration‐aspiration scale max, pharyngeal total, and oral total scores with Spearman correlation coefficients of −0.53 ( z .001), −0.50 ( P < .001), and −0.43 ( P = .002), respectively. Optimal respiratory‐swallow pattern was significantly decreased ( P = .03) in patients after cancer treatment compared with another patient group before cancer treatment. Conclusion: These findings indicate that as the percentage of optimal respiratory‐swallow phase patterns increase, swallowing impairment decreases in the HNC patient population.