VIDEOMANOMETRY OF THE PHARYNX IN DYSPHAGIC PATIENTS WITH LARYNGEAL BARIUM PENETRATION DURING SWALLOWING

Purpose: This study used simultaneous videomanometry to measure pressu re characteristics in a group of patients with evidence of laryngeal a nd/or tracheal barium penetration, and to compare the results to those of one group of healthy volunteers and one group of patients with dys phagia but a normal barium swallow. Material and Methods: Videomanomet ry during barium swallowing was performed in 25 patients who showed pe netration of barium into the laryngeal vestibule. Manometric abnormali ties were determined by comparing these mean values with those of 25 h ealthy volunteers, and the frequency of manometric abnormalities was c ompared to that of 19 patients presenting with oropharyngeal dysphagia with a normal barium swallow. Results: The frequency of abnormalities for four parameters (pharyngo-esophageal segment (PES) resting pressu re, PES relaxation duration, pharyngeal peak pressure, pharyngeal cont raction duration) differed significantly between the patients with pen etration and those with normal barium studies. There was, however, no association between manometric abnormalities and the degree of barium penetration. Conclusion: The differences in manometric abnormalities b etween patients with laryngeal penetration and patients with normal ba rium swallows may be useful in identifying the mechanisms of laryngeal penetration.