BackgroundBreathing and swallowing are physiologically linked to ensure effortless gas exchange during oronasal breathing and to prevent aspiration during swallowing. Studies have indicated consistent aspiration in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, mainly related to delayed swallowing reflex and problems with lingual propulsion and pharyngeal peristalsis as a result of bilateral weakness and incoordination of the related muscles. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate swallowing transit times and valleculae residue characteristics of stable COPD patients who have no swallowing complaints.MethodsOur study population included 20 stable patients with COPD and no swallowing complaints and 20 healthy controls. Swallowing was assessed through videofluoroscopic examination and involved the analysis of the following parameters: (1) pharyngeal stages of deglutition; (2) the duration of bolus movement through the oral cavity and pharynx (i.e. transit times); (3) valleculae residue ratio; (4) penetration/aspiration.ResultsParticipants of the study did not present any signs of penetration-aspiration for any of the tested consistencies. Patients with COPD presented longer pharyngeal transit times during the ingestion of the liquid consistency and during the ingestion of the paste consistency. Regarding the duration of tongue base contact with the posterior pharyngeal wall, COPD patients also presented longer durations for the liquid and paste consistencies. No significant difference was observed for the distribution of individuals among the different valleculae residue severity levels.ConclusionsOur study suggests that stable COPD patients may present physiological adaptations as a protective swallowing maneuver to avoid aspiration/penetration of pharyngeal contents. Moreover, valleculae residue cannot be seen as an isolated factor when trying to explain swallowing alterations in this population.

Objective: To identify symptoms of dysphagia in individuals with COPD, based on their responses on a selfperception questionnaire. Methods: The study comprised 35 individuals with COPD and 35 healthy individuals, matched for age and gender. The study group was assessed regarding COPD severity; sensation of dyspnea; body mass index (BMI); and symptoms of dysphagia. The control group was assessed regarding BMI and symptoms of dysphagia. Results: The most common symptoms of dysphagia in the study group were pharyngeal symptoms/ airway protection (p < 0.001); esophageal symptoms/history of pneumonia (p < 0.001); and nutritional symptoms (p < 0.001). Positive correlations were found between the following pairs of variables: FEV 1 and BMI (r = 0.567; p < 0.001); pharyngeal symptoms/airway protection and dyspnea (r = 0.408; p = 0.015); and esophageal symptoms/ history of pneumonia and pharyngeal symptoms/airway protection (r = 0.531; p = 0.001). There was a negative correlation between nutritional symptoms and BMI (r = −0.046; p < 0.008). Conclusions: Our results show that the individuals with COPD presented with symptoms of dysphagia that were associated with the pharyngeal and esophageal phases of swallowing, as well as with the mechanism of airway protection, a history of pneumonia, and nutritional symptoms.Keywords: Deglutition disorders; Pulmonary disease, chronic obstructive; Pathological conditions, signs and symptoms. ResumoObjetivo: Identificar os sintomas indicativos de disfagia em indivíduos portadores de DPOC a partir de um questionário de autopercepção. Métodos: Foram avaliados 35 indivíduos portadores de DPOC e 35 indivíduos sem a doença pareados por gênero e idade. O grupo de estudo foi avaliado quanto a gravidade da doença, sensação de dispneia, índice de massa corpórea (IMC) e sintomas de disfagia. O grupo controle foi avaliado quanto a IMC e sintomas de disfagia. Resultados: Os sintomas mais frequentes de disfagia apresentados pelos participantes do grupo de estudo foram sintomas faríngeos/proteção de vias aéreas (p < 0,001), sintomas esofágicos/histórico de pneumonia (p < 0,001) e sintomas alimentares (p < 0,001). As seguintes variáveis apresentaram correlações positivas: VEF 1 e IMC (r = 0,567; p < 0,001); sintomas faríngeos/proteção de vias aéreas e dispneia (r = 0,408; p = 0,015); e sintomas esofágicos/histórico de pneumonia e sintomas faríngeos/proteção de vias aéreas (r = 0,531; p = 0,001). Houve correlação negativa entre sintomas alimentares e IMC (r = −0,046; p < 0,008). Conclusões: Os resultados mostraram que os participantes com DPOC apresentaram sintomas de disfagia relacionados à fase faríngea e esofágica da deglutição; ao mecanismo de proteção das vias aéreas; ao histórico de pneumonia e aos sintomas alimentares. Descritores: Transtornos de deglutição; Doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica; Condições patológicas, sinais e sintomas.* Study carried out at

-Background: Videofluoroscopy is considered the "gold standard"procedure for the evaluation of swallowing by most units that treat patients with dysphagia, having a great impact in decision making, not only in therapeutic terms, but also in determining the prognosis. Aim: To propose and to verify the reproducibility of the results of a perceptual two-dimensional videofluoroscopic protocol for the analysis of the pharyngeal phase of swallowing in a population of healthy adults. Methods: Participants were 20 healthy adults, of both genders, with ages between 50 and 65 years. Videofluoroscopy was performed during the swallow of the following consistencies: 10 ml of liquid; 7 ml of paste; and half a "salt and water" biscuit. The protocol was composed by four parts: assessment of the pharyngeal transit time; assessment of the duration of the tongue base movement to the posterior pharyngeal wall; valleculae residue ratio; assessment of penetration/aspiration. Statistical analysis involved the assessment of data reproducibility between raters and analysis of the quantitative data regarding gender. Results:Comparison among raters indicated that data was highly reproducible. No significant differences were found between genders for pharyngeal transit time; for the duration of the tongue base movement to the posterior pharyngeal wall; and for the valleculae residue ratio. Conclusion: The perceptual two-dimensional videofluoroscopy analysis demonstrated to be a reproducible method. Valleculae residue was present in 40% of the study sample, suggesting that this parameter alone does not indicate alterations of the pharyngeal phase of swallowing. RESUMO -Racional:A videofluoroscopia é considerada o procedimento "padrão-ouro" para avaliação da deglutição pela maioria das unidades que atendem pacientes com disfagia, tendo grande impacto na tomada de decisão, não só em termos terapêuticos, como também na determinação do prognóstico. Objetivo: Propor e verificar a reprodutibilidade de protocolo de análise videofluoroscopica bidimensional perceptual da fase faríngea da deglutição em uma população de adultos saudáveis. Métodos: Participaram desta pesquisa 20 indivíduos saudáveis, de ambos os gêneros, com idades entre 50 e 65 anos. O exame foi realizado durante a ingestão de "alimentos" com as seguintes consistências: 10 ml de líquido; 7 ml de pastoso; e meio biscoito do tipo "água e sal". O protocolo proposto foi composto de quatro partes: avaliação do tempo de trânsito faríngeo; avaliação da duração do contato da base de língua na parede posterior da faringe; avaliação da porcentagem de resíduo alimentar em valécula; avaliação de penetração e aspiração na árvore respiratória. A análise estatística envolveu a avaliação da reprodutibilidade do método de análise entre avaliadores e a análise dos dados quantitativos, levando-se em consideração os gêneros. Resultados: Pela análise comparativa entre os avaliadores houve alta reprodutibilidade. Não foram encontradas diferenças estatisticamente significantes para o tempo de trâns...