The deglutition of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Abstract

Objective: Evaluate the deglutition characteristics of patients with Lateral Amiotrophic Sclerosis by videofluoroscopy. Methods: 20 patients were included, aging 43 -75 years, with no other concomitant disease, without the use of tracheostomy or other alternative feeding tubes. After an anamnesis, the patients received three servings of food, one liquid, one pasty and one solid, and underwent the deglutition videofluoroscopy. The exam was filmed for further analysis. Results: In the liquid consistency, the most significant alteration was the presence of residues on the vallecula of 11 patients. The pasty consistency caused reduction in the larynx elevation in 12 patients and residues in pharyngoesophageal transition of 12 patients. In the solid consistency, 10 patients had tongue mobility reduction and residues in the oral cavity was found in 10 patients. Out of the 20 included patients, 11 had discrete dysphagia. Conclusion: All patients had dysphagia, most of them at a discrete degree. The pharyngeal phase was the most compromised for the pasty and liquid phases, with residues in vallecula and pharyngoesophageal transition, followed by the oral phase, with increased oral transit time and reduced tongue mobility in the solid consistency.