[Fiberoptic endoscopic swallowing disorders in chronic encephalopathy]

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the results of fiberoptic endoscopic examination of swallowing safety in children with cerebral encephalopathy in order to identify patients with oropharyngeal dysphagia. METHODS: 68 children from the Association for the Care of Disabled Children (Associação de Assistência à Criança Deficiente -AACD), São Paulo, were submitted to fiberoptic endoscopic examination of swallowing safety from March 1999 to March 2000. RESULTS: We observed premature spillage (53%), penetration in a pureed consistency (5.9%), penetration in a liquid consistency (4.4%), tracheal aspiration in a pureed consistency (14.7%), tracheal aspiration in a liquid consistency (32.3%), residue (7.4%), cough effectiveness (44.1%). CONCLUSIONS: Children showed a high incidence of pharyngeal swallowing disorders. Tracheal aspiration was the most important disorder because it is related with high morbidity in children with cerebral encephalopathy. The texture and consistency of the patientacute;s diet may be modified to decrease the risk of aspiration and improve swallowing examination.