[Videofluoroscopy study of swallowing in neurogenic dysphagia]

Videofluoroscopy (VFS) was for the first time used for examining swallowing in 49 patients with nervous diseases. Disturbances in each phase of swallowing act are analyzed with evaluation of the time parameters and defects, causes of aspiration in neurogenic dysphagia are discussed, and cricopharyngeal insufficiency is described. Neurogenic dysphagia is characterized by a combination of disorders which determine the degree of dysphagia. The most severe swallowing disorders were observed in patients with multiple foci in the brain stem and in diphtheritic polyneuropathies. The authors conclude that VFS is the optimal method for the diagnosis of neurogenic dysphagia.