Pharyngeal swallowing sound profile assessed after partial and total laryngectomy.

Recently, we described three components of a normal pharyngeal swallowing sound. The aim of the present study was to identify variations of these components using synchronized acoustic-radiological data in partially laryngectomized (PL) and totally laryngectomized (TL) patients before and after surgery. In this prospective study, from January 2003 to December 2006 we enrolled 14 patients in a PL group and 9 patients in a TL group. A fluoroscopy camera and a microphone were connected to a computer to obtain acoustic-radiological data (25 images/s). The subjects were asked to perform six deglutitions of 10 ml of barium suspension. The average durations of the sound variables were measured before and after surgery. The duration of the preoperative pharyngeal sound was 602 ms in the PL group and 562 ms in the TL group. It was significantly decreased after the TL (296 ms) and was increased after the PL (740 ms). A typical profile of the swallowing sound for each group was obtained. This study allowed us to describe the main variations of the pharyngeal swallowing sound induced by PL and TL. This noninvasive tool could be useful to assess postoperative swallowing function.

Study of swallowing sound at the esophagogastric junction before and after fundoplication.

INTRODUCTION: Swallowing sounds can be heard in the lower esophagus by xiphoid auscultation. We hypothesize that the xiphoid sound analysis could provide information concerning the integrity of the esophagogastric junction (EGJ), i.e., superposition of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) and the diaphragm to assess clinical diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and results of Nissen fundoplication (NF). The aim was to evaluate the changes in sound parameters using our acoustic technique after reorganization of the EGJ after NF. METHODS: For 21 patients with GERD and hiatus hernia, two microphones were placed below the cricoid and on the xiphoid cartilages. The frequency and duration of xiphoid sounds, esophageal transit time were calculated. We defined the xiphoid sound as composed of vibration groups separated by periods >100 ms. The number of vibration groups, number of vibrations per group, and interval between groups were also calculated. RESULTS: The xiphoid sound frequency was increased after NF, and the esophageal transit time and xiphoid sound duration were significantly decreased. A significant correlation was found between xiphoid sound duration and LES-diaphragm displacement. The number of vibration groups and interval between groups were reduced after NF. CONCLUSION: The acoustic technique for swallowing revealed the effects of NF upon the dynamic profile of the EGJ. The organization of vibration groups at the EGJ suggested that the passage of the bolus was modified by hiatus hernia, i.e., dissociation between the LES and the diaphragm and regularized by NF. Concomitant acoustic and radiologic study should contribute to better understanding of sound related to EGJ structure and boli.