Assessment of Pre-esophageal Dysphagia: Report of 15 Cases

  Objective  To explore the assessment of pre-esophageal dysphagia.

  Methods  The data of 16 patients with pre-esophageal dysphagia who were treated in our department from January 2001 to October 2011 were retrospectively analyzed.

  Results  Of these 16 patients, 9 showed abnormal results during repetitive saliva swallowing test and 8 showed grade Ⅲ or higher abnormalities during Kubota drinking test, 11 patients had abnormal videofluoroscopic swallowing examination results including pooling, residuals, reflex, spillage, penetration, aspiration, and cricopharyngeal disorder. Fibroptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing showed abnormalities including vocal paralysis, saliva retention, stenosis, and aspiration in 11 patients.

  Conclusions  Repetitive saliva swallowing test and Kubota drinking test can be applied for screening purpose and as bedside test. Vediofluoroscopic swallowing examination and flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing can be used as more accurate assessments.