VIDEOFLUOROSCOPIC EVALUATION OF PATIENTS WITH GUILLAIN-BARRE-SYNDROME

We reviewed 14 patients with clinically confirmed Guillain-Barre syndr ome for swallowing dysfunction, All had swallowing dysfunction varying from mild to severe. Six patients (43%) had equivalent impairment dur ing oral and pharyngeal phases, Seven patients (50%) had more severe f unctional abnormalities during the pharyngeal phase than during the or al phase. One patient (7%) had moderate disorder during the oral phase and mild disorder during the pharyngeal phase, Thirty-six percent of the patients had moderate-to-severe dysfunction during the oral phase, and 71% had moderate-to-severe dysfunction during the pharyngeal phas e. In 5 patients who had multiple sequential examinations, moderate or severe swallowing disorders improved to mild-to-moderate disorders wi thin 4-8 weeks after the onset of the symptoms, Residual swallowing di sorders may be seen in those who had severe swallowing dysfunction dur ing the later phases of their disease, Further investigations are need ed to determine if swallowing abnormalities persist after complete rec overy from Guillain-Barre syndrome.