Systematic approach to contextualize findings of flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing in neurogenic dysphagia- towards an integrated FEES report.

Flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) is one of the most important methods for instrumental swallowing evaluation. The most challenging part of the examination consists in the interpretation of the various observations encountered during endoscopy and in the deduction of clinical consequences. This review proposes the framework for an integrated FEES-report that systematically moves from salient findings of FEES to more advanced domains such as dysphagia severity, phenotypes of swallowing impairment and pathomechanisms. Validated scales and scores are used to enhance the diagnostic yield. In the concluding part of the report, FEES-findings are put into the perspective of the clinical context. The potential etiology of dysphagia and conceivable differential diagnoses are considered, further diagnostic steps are proposed, treatment options are evaluated, and a timeframe for re-assessment is suggested. This framework is designed to be adaptable and open to continuous evolution. Additional items, such as novel FEES protocols, pathophysiological observations, advancements in disease-related knowledge, and new treatment options, can be easily incorporated. Moreover, there is potential for customizing this approach to report on FEES in structural dysphagia.

Pharyngeal Electrical Stimulation prior to extubation - Reduction of extubation failure rate in acute stroke patients?

PURPOSE: The aim of our study was to assess if PES before extubation can minimize the extubation failure risk in orally intubated, mechanically ventilated stroke patients at high risk of severe dysphagia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-two ICU patients were prospectively enrolled in this study presenting with a high risk for dysphagia as defined by a DEFISS (Determine Extubation Failure In Severe Stroke) risk score and compared 1:1 to a retrospective matched patient control group. The prospective patient group received PES prior to extubation. Endpoints were need for reintubation, swallowing function as assessed with FEES, pneumonia incidence and length of stay after extubation. RESULTS: Post-extubation, the Fiberoptic Endoscopic Dysphagia Severity Score (FEDSS, 4.31 ± 1.53vs.5.03 ± 1.28;p = 0.047) and reintubation rate within 72 h (9.4vs.34.4%;p = 0.032) were significantly lower in the PES group than in the historical control group. Pulmonary infections after extubation were less common in PES-treated patients although this difference was not significant (37.5vs.59.4%;p = 0.133). Time from extubation to discharge was significantly shorter after PES compared with the control group (14.09 ± 11.58vs.26.59 ± 20.49 days;p = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: In orally intubated and mechanically ventilated stroke patients at high risk of severe dysphagia, PES may improve swallowing function, reduce extubation failure risk and decrease time from extubation to discharge. Further research is required.

Dysphagia after stroke: research advances in treatment interventions.

After a stroke, most patients have dysphagia, which can lead to aspiration pneumonia, malnutrition, and adverse functional outcomes. Protective interventions aimed at reducing these complications remain the cornerstone of treatment. Dietary adjustments and oral hygiene help mitigate the risk of aspiration pneumonia, and nutritional supplementation, including tube feeding, might be needed to prevent malnutrition. Rehabilitative interventions aim to enhance swallowing function, with different behavioural strategies showing promise in small studies. Investigations have explored the use of pharmaceutical agents such as capsaicin and other Transient-Receptor-Potential-Vanilloid-1 (TRPV-1) sensory receptor agonists, which alter sensory perception in the pharynx. Neurostimulation techniques, such as transcranial direct current stimulation, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, and pharyngeal electrical stimulation, might promote neuroplasticity within the sensorimotor swallowing network. Further advancements in the understanding of central and peripheral sensorimotor mechanisms in patients with dysphagia after a stroke, and during their recovery, will contribute to optimising treatment protocols.

Outcomes After Decompressive Surgery for Severe Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis Associated or Not Associated with Vaccine-Induced Immune Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia: A Multicenter Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Clinical observations indicated that vaccine-induced immune thrombosis with thrombocytopenia (VITT)-associated cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) often has a space-occupying effect and thus necessitates decompressive surgery (DS). While comparing with non-VITT CVST, this study explored whether VITT-associated CVST exhibits a more fulminant clinical course, different perioperative and intensive care unit management, and worse long-term outcome. METHODS: This multicenter, retrospective cohort study collected patient data from 12 tertiary centers to address priorly formulated hypotheses concerning the clinical course, the perioperative management with related complications, extracerebral complications, and the functional outcome (modified Rankin Scale) in patients with VITT-associated and non-VITT CVST, both with DS. RESULTS: Both groups, each with 16 patients, were balanced regarding demographics, kind of clinical symptoms, and radiological findings at hospital admission. Severity of neurological symptoms, assessed with the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale, was similar between groups at admission and before surgery, whereas more patients with VITT-associated CVST showed a relevant midline shift (≥ 4 mm) before surgery (100% vs. 68.8%, p = 0.043). Patients with VITT-associated CVST tended to undergo DS early, i.e., ≤ 24 h after hospital admission (p = 0.077). Patients with VITT-associated CVST more frequently received platelet transfusion, tranexamic acid, and fibrinogen perioperatively. The postoperative management was comparable, and complications were evenly distributed. More patients with VITT-associated CVST achieved a favorable outcome (modified Rankin Scale ≤ 3) at 3 months (p = 0.043). CONCLUSIONS: Although the prediction of individual courses remains challenging, DS should be considered early in VITT-associated CVST because an overall favorable outcome appears achievable in these patients.

Management of swallowing disorders in ICU patients - A multinational expert opinion.

BACKGROUND: Dysphagia is common in intensive care unit (ICU) patients, yet it remains underrecognized and often unmanaged despite being associated with life-threatening complications, prolonged ICU stays and hospitalization. PURPOSE: To propose an expert opinion for the diagnosis and management of dysphagia developed from evidence-based clinical recommendations and practitioner insights. METHODS: A multinational group of dysphagia and critical care experts conducted a literature review using a modified ACCORD methodology. Based on a fusion of the available evidence and the panel's clinical experience, an expert opinion on best practice management was developed. RESULTS: The panel recommends adopting clinical algorithms intended to promote standardized, high-quality care that triggers timely systematic dysphagia screening, assessment, and treatment of extubated and tracheostomized patients in the ICU. CONCLUSIONS: Given the lack of robust scientific evidence, two clinical management algorithms are proposed for use by multidisciplinary teams to improve early systematic detection and effective management of dysphagia in ICU patients. Additionally, emerging therapeutic options such as neurostimulation have the potential to improve the quality of ICU dysphagia care.

Validation of the DIGEST-FEES as a Global Outcome Measure for Pharyngeal Dysphagia in Parkinson's Disease.

Flexible Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES) is one of two diagnostic gold standards for pharyngeal dysphagia in Parkinson's disease (PD), however, validated global outcome measures at the patient level are widely lacking. The Dynamic Imaging Grade of Swallowing Toxicity for Flexible Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (DIGEST-FEES) represents such an outcome measure but has been validated primarily for head and neck cancer collectives. The objective of this study was, therefore, to investigate the validity of the DIGEST-FEES in patients with PD. Content validity was evaluated with a modified Delphi expert survey. Subsequently, 66 FEES videos in PD patients were scored with the DIGEST-FEES. Criterion validity was determined using Spearman's correlation coefficient between the DIGEST-FEES and the Penetration-Aspiration Scale (PAS), the Yale-Residue-Rating-Scale, the Functional-Oral-Intake-Scale (FOIS), and the swallowing-related Unified-Parkinson-Disease-Rating-Scale (UPDRS) items. Inter-rater reliability was determined using 10 randomly selected FEES-videos examined by a second rater. As a result, the overall DIGEST-FEES-rating exhibited significant correlations with the Yale-Valleculae-Residue-Scale (r = 0.84; p < 0.001), the Yale-Pyriform-Sinus-Residue-Scale (r = 0.70; p < 0.001), the FOIS (r = - 0.55, p < 0.001), and the UPDRS-Swallowing-Item-Score (r = 0.42, p < 0.001). Further, the DIGEST-FEES-safety subscore correlated with the PAS (r = 0.63, p < 0.001). Inter-rater reliability was high for the overall DIGEST-FEES rating (quadratic weighted kappa of 0.82). Therefore, DIGEST-FEES is a valid and reliable score to evaluate overall pharyngeal dysphagia severity in PD. Nevertheless, the modified Delphi survey identified domains where DIGEST-FEES may need to be specifically adapted to PD or neurological collectives in the future.

The assessment of dysphagia after stroke: state of the art and future directions.

Dysphagia is a major complication following an acute stroke that affects the majority of patients. Clinically, dysphagia after stroke is associated with increased risk of aspiration pneumonia, malnutrition, mortality, and other adverse functional outcomes. Pathophysiologically, dysphagia after stroke is caused by disruption of an extensive cortical and subcortical swallowing network. The screening of patients for dysphagia after stroke should be provided as soon as possible, starting with simple water-swallowing tests at the bedside or more elaborate multi-consistency protocols. Subsequently, a more detailed examination, ideally with instrumental diagnostics such as flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing or video fluoroscopy is indicated in some patients. Emerging diagnostic procedures, technical innovations in assessment tools, and digitalisation will improve diagnostic accuracy in the future. Advances in the diagnosis of dysphagia after stroke will enable management based on individual patterns of dysfunction and predisposing risk factors for complications. Progess in dysphagia rehabilitation are essential to reduce mortality and improve patients' quality of life after a stroke.

Bilateral vocal cord palsy as complication of CNS tuberculosis.

BACKGROUND: Tuberculous meningitis, a rare but severe form of extrapulmonary tuberculosis, frequently affects cranial nerves. While nerves III, VI and VII are commonly involved, involvement of caudal cranial nerves is rarely described. Here, we report a rare case of bilateral vocal cord palsy secondary to caudal cranial nerve involvement in tuberculous meningoencephalitis, that occurred in Germany, a country with low tuberculosis incidence. CASE PRESENTATION: A 71-year-old woman was transferred for further treatment of hydrocephalus as a complication of presumed bacterial meningitis with unknown pathogen at that time. Because of decreased consciousness, intubation was performed and an empiric antibiotic therapy with ampicillin, ceftriaxone and acyclovir was initiated. Upon admission to our hospital, an external ventricular drainage was placed. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis revealed Mycobacterium tuberculosis as the causative pathogen, and antitubercular treatment was initiated. Extubation was possible one week after admission. Eleven days later, the patient developed inspiratory stridor that worsened within a few hours. Flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) revealed new-onset bilateral vocal cord palsy as the cause of respiratory distress, which required re-intubation and tracheostomy. The bilateral vocal cord palsy persisted despite continued antitubercular therapy on the follow-up examination. CONCLUSION: Considering the aetiology of infectious meningitis, cranial nerve palsies may be suggestive for tuberculous meningitis as underlying disease given their rarity in other bacterial forms of meningitis. Nevertheless, intracranial involvement of inferior cranial nerves is rare even in this specific entity, as only extracranial lesions of inferior cranial nerves have been reported in tuberculosis. With this report of a rare case of bilateral vocal cord palsy due to intracranial involvement of the vagal nerves, we emphasize the importance of timely initiation of treatment for tuberculous meningitis. This may help to prevent serious complications and associated poor outcome since the response to anti-tuberculosis therapy may be limited.

Sarcopenic Dysphagia Revisited: A Cross-Sectional Study in Hospitalized Geriatric Patients.

Oropharyngeal dysphagia (OD) is a frequent finding in older patients with potentially lethal complications such as aspiration pneumonia, malnutrition, and dehydration. Recent studies describe sarcopenia as a causative factor for OD, which is occasionally referred to as "sarcopenic dysphagia" in the absence of a neurogenic etiology. In most of the previous studies on sarcopenic dysphagia, the diagnosis was based only on clinical assessment. In this study, flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) was used as an objective method to evaluate the presence of OD, its association with sarcopenia, and the presence of pure sarcopenic dysphagia. In this retrospective cross-sectional study, 109 acute care geriatric hospital patients with suspected OD received FEES examination and bioimpedance analysis (BIA) in clinical routine. 95% of patients had at least one neurological disease, 70% fulfilled the criteria for sarcopenia, and 45% displayed moderate or severe OD. Although the prevalence of sarcopenia and OD was high, there was no significant association between OD and sarcopenia. Considering these results, both the association between sarcopenia and OD and pure sarcopenic dysphagia appear questionable. Further prospective studies are needed to elucidate if sarcopenia is merely an epiphenomenon of severe disease or whether it plays a causative role in the development of OD.

[Diagnostics and treatment of post-stroke dysphagia]. / Diagnostik und Therapie der Dysphagie nach einem Schlaganfall.

BACKGROUND: Post-stroke dysphagia is highly prevalent and leads to severe complications, such as aspiration pneumonia and malnutrition. Despite the high clinical relevance dysphagia management is heterogeneous and often inadequate. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this review article is to provide an overview of the diagnostic and treatment strategies for post-stroke dysphagia based on recent studies. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Narrative literature review. RESULTS: Dysphagia screening should be performed as early as possible in every stroke patient, e.g., with a simple water swallowing test or a multiconsistency protocol. Subsequently, flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) is indicated in patients with abnormal screening results or existing risk factors for dysphagia. Dietary modifications, oral hygiene measures, and nutritional therapy can help reduce complications. Behavioral swallowing therapy or experimental therapies, such as neurostimulation procedures and pharmacological approaches aim to improve swallowing function and have shown promising results in studies. CONCLUSION: Timely management of dysphagia is necessary to reduce complications.

Costs of post-stroke dysphagia during acute hospitalization from a health-insurance perspective.

Purpose: Oropharyngeal dysphagia is a common and complication-prone symptom after stroke and is assumed to increase medical expenses. The purpose of this study was therefore to examine acute hospitalization costs associated with post-stroke dysphagia. Method: This retrospective study included patients with acute stroke who had been examined by Flexible Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES). Health insurance expenditures were determined for the patient cases according to the 2021 revenue criteria. Multiple linear regression was used to examine predictors of health insurance spending including age, sex, stroke severity, stroke characteristics, comorbidity, therapeutic interventions, duration of artificial ventilation, length of hospital stay, and severity of dysphagia, as assessed by the Fiberoptic Endoscopic Dysphagia Severity Scale (FEDSS), ranging from 1 (best) to 6 (worst). Findings: Six hundred seventy four patients (men/women: 367/307; mean age: 71.1 ± 12.8 years; mean National Institute of Health Stroke Scale: 11.2 ± 6.2; FEDSS 1/2/3/4/5/6: 113/73/144/119/124/101; mean health-insurance costs 11,521.5 ± 12,950.5€) were included in the analysis. Advanced age (p = 0.007; B = 57.6), catheter interventions (p < 0.001; B = 4105.6), tracheotomy (p = 0.006; B = 5195.2), duration of artificial ventilation (p < 0.001; B = 388.6), length of hospital stay (p < 0.001; B = 441.9), and severe dysphagia with an FEDSS of 6 (p = 0.004, B = 2554.3) were independent predictors of increased health insurance expenditures (p < 0.001, R-squared = adjusted-R-squared = 0.83). Discussion and conclusion: The results of this study show an association between severe dysphagia and health care costs for acute hospitalization from a health-insurance perspective. Therefore, therapies that target severe dysphagia with impaired secretion management may have the potential to reduce costs.

Relationship between post-stroke dysphagia and pharyngeal sensory impairment.

BACKGROUND: Post-stroke dysphagia (PSD) is common and can lead to serious complications. Pharyngeal sensory impairment is assumed to contribute to PSD. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between PSD and pharyngeal hypesthesia and to compare different assessment methods for pharyngeal sensation. METHODS: In this prospective observational study, fifty-seven stroke patients were examined in the acute stage of the disease using Flexible Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES). The Fiberoptic Endoscopic Dysphagia Severity Scale (FEDSS) and impaired secretion management according to the Murray-Secretion Scale were determined, as well as premature bolus spillage, pharyngeal residue and delayed or absent swallowing reflex. A multimodal sensory assessment was performed, including touch-technique and a previously established FEES-based swallowing provocation test with different volumes of liquid to determine the latency of swallowing response (FEES-LSR-Test). Predictors of FEDSS, Murray-Secretion Scale, premature bolus spillage, pharyngeal residue, and delayed or absent swallowing reflex were examined with ordinal logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: Sensory impairment using the touch-technique and the FEES-LSR-Test were independent predictors of higher FEDSS, Murray-Secretion Scale, and delayed or absent swallowing reflex. Decreased sensitivity according to the touch-technique correlated with the FEES-LSR-Test at 0.3 ml and 0.4 ml, but not at 0.2 ml and 0.5 ml trigger volumes. CONCLUSIONS: Pharyngeal hypesthesia is a crucial factor in the development of PSD, leading to impaired secretion management and delayed or absent swallowing reflex. It can be investigated using both the touch-technique and the FEES-LSR-Test. In the latter procedure, trigger volumes of 0.4 ml are particularly suitable.

Dysphagia for medication in Parkinson's disease.

Dysphagia is common in Parkinson's disease (PD) and is assumed to complicate medication intake. This study comprehensively investigates dysphagia for medication and its association with motor complications in PD. Based on a retrospective analysis, a two-dimensional and graduated classification of dysphagia for medication was introduced differentiating swallowing efficiency and swallowing safety. In a subsequent prospective study, sixty-six PD patients underwent flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing, which included the swallowing of 2 tablets and capsules of different sizes. Dysphagia for medication was present in nearly 70% of PD patients and predicted motor complications according to the MDS-UPDRS-part-IV in a linear regression model. Capsules tended to be swallowed more efficiently compared to tablets, irrespective of size. A score of ≥1 on the swallow-related-MDS-UPDRS-items can be considered an optimal cut-off to predict dysphagia for medication. Swallowing impairment for oral medication may predispose to motor complications.

Clinical determinants and neural correlates of presbyphagia in community-dwelling older adults.

Background: "Presbyphagia" refers to characteristic age-related changes in the complex neuromuscular swallowing mechanism. It has been hypothesized that cumulative impairments in multiple domains affect functional reserve of swallowing with age, but the multifactorial etiology and postulated compensatory strategies of the brain are incompletely understood. This study investigates presbyphagia and its neural correlates, focusing on the clinical determinants associated with adaptive neuroplasticity. Materials and methods: 64 subjects over 70 years of age free of typical diseases explaining dysphagia received comprehensive workup including flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES), magnetoencephalography (MEG) during swallowing and pharyngeal stimulation, volumetry of swallowing muscles, laboratory analyzes, and assessment of hand-grip-strength, nutritional status, frailty, olfaction, cognition and mental health. Neural MEG activation was compared between participants with and without presbyphagia in FEES, and associated clinical influencing factors were analyzed. Presbyphagia was defined as the presence of oropharyngeal swallowing alterations e.g., penetration, aspiration, pharyngeal residue pooling or premature bolus spillage into the piriform sinus and/or laryngeal vestibule. Results: 32 of 64 participants showed swallowing alterations, mainly characterized by pharyngeal residue, whereas the airway was rarely compromised. In the MEG analysis, participants with presbyphagia activated an increased cortical sensorimotor network during swallowing. As major clinical determinant, participants with swallowing alterations exhibited reduced pharyngeal sensation. Presbyphagia was an independent predictor of a reduced nutritional status in a linear regression model. Conclusions: Swallowing alterations frequently occur in otherwise healthy older adults and are associated with decreased nutritional status. Increased sensorimotor cortical activation may constitute a compensation attempt to uphold swallowing function due to sensory decline. Further studies are needed to clarify whether the swallowing alterations observed can be considered physiological per se or whether the concept of presbyphagia may need to be extended to a theory with a continuous transition between presbyphagia and dysphagia.

Endpoints in Dysphagia Trials. Comment on Speyer et al. Neurostimulation in People with Oropharyngeal Dysphagia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses of Randomised Controlled Trials-Part I: Pharyngeal and Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation. J. Clin. Med. 2022, 11, 776.

We read with interest the authors' systematic review and meta-analysis of pharyngeal electrical stimulation (PES) and neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) in patients with oropharyngeal dysphagia (OD) [...].

Endoscopic Characteristics of Dysphagia in Multiple System Atrophy Compared to Parkinson's Disease.

BACKGROUND: Dysphagia is a major clinical concern in multiple system atrophy (MSA). A detailed evaluation of its major endoscopic features compared with Parkinson's disease (PD) is lacking. OBJECTIVE: This study systematically assessed dysphagia in MSA compared with PD and correlated subjective dysphagia to objective endoscopic findings. METHODS: Fifty-seven patients with MSA (median, 64 [interquartile range (IQR): 59-71] years; 35 women) underwent flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing using a specific MSA-flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing task protocol. Findings were compared with an age-matched cohort of 57 patients with PD (median, 67 [interquartile range: 60-73] years; 28 women). In a subcohort, subjective dysphagia was assessed using the Swallowing Disturbance Questionnaire and correlated to endoscopy findings. RESULTS: Patients with MSA predominantly showed symptoms suggestive of oral-phase disturbance (premature spillage, 75.4%, piecemeal deglutition, 75.4%). Pharyngeal-phase symptoms occurred less often (pharyngeal residues, 50.9%; penetration/aspiration, 28.1%). In contrast, pharyngeal symptoms were the most common finding in PD (pharyngeal residues, 47.4%). Oral symptoms occurred less frequently in PD (premature spillage, 15.8%, P < 0.001; piecemeal deglutition, 1.8%, P < 0.01). Patients with MSA had a greater risk for oral-phase disturbances with increased disease severity (P < 0.05; odds ratio, 3.15). Patients with MSA showed a significantly higher intraindividual interswallow variability compared with PD. When correlating Swallowing Disturbance Questionnaire scores with endoscopy results, its cutoff, validated for PD, was not sensitive enough to identify patients with MSA with dysphagia. We developed a subscore for identifying dysphagia in MSA and calculated a new cutoff (sensitivity 85%, specificity 100%). CONCLUSIONS: In contrast with patients with PD, patients with dysphagic MSA more frequently present with oral-phase symptoms and a significantly higher intraindividual interswallow variability. A novel Swallowing Disturbance Questionnaire MSA subscore may be a valuable tool to identify patients with MSA with early oropharyngeal dysphagia. © 2021 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.