Videoendoscopic Evaluation of Saliva Aspiration in a Municipal Hospital

Videoendoscopic examination of swallowing is useful to examine for aspiration of saliva and food at the bedside. The purpose of the present study was to compare saliva aspiration to aspiration of food in patients with dysphagia. The subjects were 120 hospitalized patients (73 males, 47 females; mean age 82.8± 8.5 yrs) who underwent videoendoscopy. The presence of saliva aspiration, food (thick liquid of two different viscosities, thin liquid and solid food) aspiration, silent aspiration, and aspiration after swallowing were evaluated in each patient. Saliva aspiration was found in 41 (34.2%) patients. Aspiration of liquids with honey-like and nectar-like thicknesses was found in 28 (23.3%) patients and 48 (40.0%) patients, respectively. The total number of cases of aspiration of saliva and/or food was 104 (86.7%). Of these aspirators, silent aspiration was found in 44 (36.7%) patients, and aspiration after swallowing was found in 52 (43.3%) patients. Thick liquid was aspirated more frequently in patients with saliva aspiration. The proportion of silent aspiration and of aspiration after swallowing was higher in the saliva aspiration group. The results indicate that patients who aspirate saliva are also prone to food aspiration. But, there were patients who aspirated saliva but did not aspirate food. These patients were able to carry out direct therapy using thick liquid or other food adjusted properly. Food aspiration after swallowing may be induced by saliva aspiration.