Evaluation of Oropharyngeal Dysphagia in Elderly Patients with Pharyngeal Aberrant Internal Carotid Artery Using the Eating Assessment Tool-10 (EAT-10).

Pharyngeal aberrant internal carotid artery (PAICA) has been reported to be a cause of oropharyngeal dysphagia (OD) in case reports. However, as there have been no clinical studies, the relationship between PAICA and OD is not clear. The aim of this study was to investigate the perception of OD in elderly PAICA patients using the Eating Assessment Tool-10 (EAT-10). A study group (Group 1) was formed of patients diagnosed with PAICA from the visualization of a pulsatile mass in the pharynx in flexible fiberoptic endoscopic examination and carotid magnetic resonance angiography tests, and a control group (Group 2) was formed of age-matched healthy volunteers. The study group was subdivided as patients with unilateral PAICA (Group 1a) and patients with bilateral PAICA (Group 1b). The Turkish version of the EAT-10 was applied to all the participants. Total EAT-10 points of ≥ 3 were accepted as abnormal. Normal (< 3) and abnormal (≥ 3) total EAT-10 points were determined in 88.9% (24/27) and 11.1% (3/27), respectively, of the control group, in 55.2% (16/29) and 44.8% (13/29) of Group 1, in 70.6% (12/17) and 29.4% (5/17) of Group 1a, and in 33.3% (4/12) and 66.7% (8/12) of Group 1b. A statistically significant difference was determined between the control group and Group 1 and Group 1b in respect of abnormal (≥ 3) EAT-10 total points (p = 0.007, p = 0.001, respectively). No statistically significant difference was determined between the control group and Group 1a (p = 0.227). Problems (EAT point ≥ 1) in item 4 (swallowing solids takes extra effort) were experienced by 13 (44.8%) patients in Group 1, 9 (75%) patients in Group 1b, and 5 (18.5%) subjects in the control group (p < 0.05). These results demonstrated that unilateral PAICA does not significantly affect swallowing, whereas bilateral PAICA created a significant negative effect. These patients experience more problems when swallowing solid food.

Throat Symptoms Before and After Septal Surgery in Adults With Nasal Septum Deviation.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate subjective throat symptoms with the Qualities of Sore Throat Index (QuaSTI) in adults with nasal septum deviation. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Baskent University Ankara Hospital. METHODS: Group 1 included patients with septum deviation. Preoperative data were obtained through evaluation of subjective nasal obstruction with the NOSE (Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation) and throat symptoms with the QuaSTI (group 1a). After 3 months, the same patient group was reevaluated with the NOSE and QuaSTI to obtain postoperative data (group 1b). Group 2 was formed of healthy volunteers with no nasal obstruction. RESULTS: The mean ± SD and median (range) values of the QuaSTI total score were 33.39 ± 29.50 and 18.5 (0-90) in group 1a, 7.49 ± 4.31 and 7 (0-18) in group 2, and 7.58 ± 9.24 and 4.50 (0-49) in group 1b (group 1a vs 2, P < .001; group 1a vs 1b, P < .0001). A significant difference was determined between groups 1a and 2 with respect to the QuaSTI sensory score (26.58 ± 23.54 and 18 [0-73] vs 6.51 ± 3.58 and 7 [0-15], P < .001, respectively) and between groups 1a and 1b for the QuaSTI functional score (6.03 ± 6.62 and 3 [0-20] vs 1.50 ± 2.47 and 0.50 [0-13], P = .004). No significant difference was found between groups 1a and 2 in terms of the QuaSTI emotional score (P = .126). CONCLUSION: Various persistent sensory and functional throat symptoms can be seen in patients experiencing nasal obstruction associated with septum deviation, and the majority of these symptoms recover after septal surgery.