[A clinical respiratory evaluation of dysphagic patients with chronic aspirations]

The basical respiratory state of dysphagic patients with chronic aspirations is not well-known.

to determine if chronic aspirations are associated with chronic clinical respiratory complications.

A prospective study was performed on 76 patients with swallowing disorders; The patients who aspirate are determined by swallowing videofluoroscopy. All patients answer to a questionnaire analysing their general and respiratory handicap. And a respiratory clinical examination was performed. The clinical symptoms between the group of aspirating patients and non aspirating patients were analysed.

The global handicap and the respiratory handicap, caused by swallowing dysfunction, are more important for the aspirating patients (p < 0.05). The aspirating patients are more often symptomatic (p < 0.05); They present more functional and physical respiratory signs (p < 0.05); it seems that they present more often respiratory infections.

Chronic aspirations are associated with a chronic handicapping respiratory disease, that is still to be described with para-clinical exams.