Treatment of dysphagia improves nutritional conditions in stroke patients.

Dysphagia is a common symptom in stroke patients, and malnutrition is prevalent among these patients. Thus far, nutritional effects of dysphagic treatment have not been evaluated. The aim of the present report was to study the effects of swallowing techniques on nutritional and anthropometric variables. A survey with follow-up was performed at the Departments of Geriatric Medicine and Neurology, Malmö University Hospital, Sweden. Thirty-eight stroke patients, 53-89 years of age, with subjective complaints of dysphagia and oral/pharyngeal dysfunction according to videofluoroscopic barium swallowing examination (VSBE), were given swallowing treatment. The treatment included oral motor exercise, different swallowing techniques, positioning, and diet modification. Plasma protein levels, body composition, VSBE, and a viso-analogical scale for subjective complaints were repeated before and after treatment. At baseline, 94% of cases had signs of penetration and 50-72% had plasma protein levels below recommended levels. Treatment reduced the degree of oral dysfunction, (dissociation) and pharyngeal dysfunction (penetration and constrictor paresis). Sixty percent of cases showed an improved overall VSBE score, and improved levels of albumin and total iron-binding capacity were restricted to this group. In cases with unchanged or decreased VSBE score, body weight was reduced and a negative correlation to total iron-binding capacity was noted (r = -0.60, p < 0.05). Changes of subjective complaints did not correlate with swallowing function or nutritional improvements. Swallowing treatment improves swallowing function, and improved swallowing function is associated with improvements in nutritional parameters. Subjective complaints is not sufficient to evaluate the clinical course, and nutritional parameters should be monitored in patients with oral or pharyngeal dysfunction.

Aspiration: a potential complication to vagus nerve stimulation.

PURPOSE: Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is reported to reduce the frequency of seizures in children and adults without causing serious side effects. However, clinical observation of swallowing difficulties in 2 children treated with VNS made further investigation necessary. METHODS: Seven patients aged 4-18 years and treated with VNS for 6-14 months were investigated with videoradiography during barium swallow. The children performed 5-30 barium swallow investigations with the VNS device turned off, running as programmed, or set at continuous stimulations. The degree of aspiration was scored from 0 to 3. RESULTS: In 5 of 7 children, of whom reported transient swallowing difficulties, no change in the degree of aspiration was noted. The 2 children with swallowing difficulties, however. showed increased aspiration score when the stimulator was set at continuous stimulations. In 1 the score also appeared to increase with the VNS running as programmed (p > 0.05). Both children had severe mental and motor disabilities. CONCLUSIONS: Before and during VNS treatment patients should be evaluated with regard to swallowing problems. There needs to be an easy way to turn the device on and off to avoid aspirations, a hazardous and potentially life-threatening complication of VNS.

Addition of methyl cellulose enema to double-contrast barium imaging of sigmoid diverticulosis.

UNLABELLED: Double-contrast barium enema has a reduced sensitivity in patients with severe sigmoid diverticulosis. Therefore a carboxy methyl cellulose enema was employed after the conventional double-contrast examination in 15 patients with sigmoid diverticulosis. A significant increase in lumen diameter and a superior removal of barium residue from the diverticula facilitated the interpretation of the sigmoid loops. CONCLUSION: The addition of methyl cellulose enema to double-contrast barium imaging improves diagnostic imaging in diverticulosis by expanding the lumen and emptying the diverticula.

Internal hemorrhoids: diagnosis with double-contrast barium enema examinations.

The authors retrospectively studied 43 patients suspected of having internal hemorrhoids at double-contrast barium enema examination. At endoscopy, 24 patients (56%) had internal hemorrhoids, four (9%) had other pathologic lesions in the rectum without evidence of hemorrhoids, and 15 (35%) had no reported abnormalities in the rectum. Internal hemorrhoids were found at endoscopy in 10 of 20 patients (50%) with lobulated folds extending 3 cm or less from the anorectal junction and 10 of 13 patients (77%) with multiple submucosal nodules. However, no patients with these characteristic radiographic findings were found to have other pathologic lesions in the rectum that had been mistaken for hemorrhoids at barium enema examination. Conversely, three of four patients with lobulated folds extending more than 3 cm from the anorectal junction and one of six patients with solitary nodules had proctitis or rectal neoplasms. Thus, specific criteria are suggested for the diagnosis of internal hemorrhoids on double-contrast barium enema examinations. Suspected hemorrhoids that do not fulfill these criteria should be evaluated endoscopically to rule out other more serious pathologic lesions in the rectum.

Effects of calcium, fluoride and magnesium supplementations on tissue mineralization in calcium- and magnesium-deficient rats.

There is considerable uncertainty about the interrelated effects of calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg) and fluoride (F) on hypocalcification of the skeleton and Ca accumulation in vital soft tissues. This paper describes experiments with rats fed a diet deficient in Ca and Mg, the latter deficiency being accentuated by a low potassium content. For different groups the drinking water was supplemented with Ca, Mg, F, Ca + F or Mg + F; Ca and F were supplied as chemically compatible compounds. At the end of the 54-d experiment, plasma Ca was strongly reduced in the Ca-deficient groups. Plasma Mg was reduced particularly in the test groups supplied with Ca, without any influence of F supply or varying plasma F. Ca accumulation was much more pronounced in the kidneys than in the heart or aorta, but was mitigated by both Mg and F supplementation. Bone mineralization disturbance due to the dietary imbalance was preventable only by Ca or Ca + F supplementation, and was less in alveolar bone than in femur. However, the Ca supplement was associated with the highest aorta and heart Ca contents, and Ca + F was associated with marked renal Ca accumulation; adequate Mg supply may be essential with Ca + F administration against osteoporosis.

Defecography.

Defecography is a technique of examining the rectum and anal canal in which the patient is studied while sitting down rather than recumbent and recordings are obtained both at rest and during straining. The authors describe their findings in 83 patients with dyschezia. Defecation was normal in 28 patients. Prolapse of the anal mucosa was seen in 13 patients and internal procidentia in 23, 12 of whom also had intussusception manifested as rectal prolapse. A deep rectogenital fossa associated with an enterocele was seen in 16 patients; 13 had a proctocele, while fecal retention was seen in 5. Descent of the pelvic floor and changes in the angle between the rectum and anal canal were assessed. The authors recommend defecography as a more physiological means of assessing rectal dysfunction.

Colon cleansing regimens. A clinical study in 1200 patients.

The purgative effect of bisacodyl, anthraquinone glycosides (Cascara), and sodium picosulfate, alone or in combination with a saline purge and a tap water enema, was studied in 1200 patients. The cleansing effect was scored with regard to retained fecal residue evident on double-contrast studies of the colon. The combination of a contact laxative and a saline purge produced good cleansing effect in 52%-80% of the patients. With an additional tap water enema given 1 hour before the colon examination, however, 96% of the colons were clean. The taste and the effects of the cleansing systems were tolerated favorably by more than 90% of the patients. However, 17% reported restriction in work capacity on the day of bowel cleansing.

[The radiologic diagnosis of inguinal hernias. Experience with the use of intraperitoneal iodinated contrast media (author's transl)]. / Röntgenologische Leistenbruchdiagnostik -- Erfahrungen mit intraperitonealer Jodkontrastinstillation.

By injecting an iodine contrast medium into the abdominal cavity and by placing the patient in a position with the table somewhat elevated, it is easy to visualize the inguinal region. The examination is performed with the X-ray tube angulated caudally, and exposures are made while the patient is straining. The method is well adapted for patients with obscure pains in the groins, for patients operated for hernias but not cured of pain and for patients in whom symptoms recur postoperatively without clinical evidence of hernial relapse. The value of the methode appears from four short case reports.