Quantifying swallowing function after stroke: A functional dysphagia scale based on videofluoroscopic studies

OBJECTIVE: To develop a sensitive, specific scale for quantifying functional dysphagia in stroke patients, using results obtained from videofluoroscopic swallowing studies. DESIGN: Data collected from a serial oral and pharyngeal videofluoroscopic swallowing study. SETTING: A dysphagia clinic in a department of rehabilitation medicine at a tertiary care university hospital. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred three consecutively admitted stroke patients. INTERVENTIONS: Videoflurorscopy to measure a scale of 11 variables: lip closure score, bolus formation, residue in oral cavity, oral transit time, triggering of pharyngeal swallow, laryngeal elevation and epiglottic closure, nasal penetration, residue in valleculae, coating of pharyngeal wall after swallow, and pharyngeal transit time. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Polychotomous linear logistic regression analysis of videofluoroscopic and aspiration results. Scale sensitivity and specificity, and the correlation between the total score of the scale and aspiration grade were analyzed. RESULTS: The scale's sensitivity and specificity for detecting supraglottic penetration and subglottic aspiration were 81%, 70.7%, and 78.1%, 77.9%, respectively. A significant positive correlation was found between the scale's total score and the severity of aspiration (Spearman's r =.58943, p =.00001). CONCLUSION: This functional dysphagia scale, which was based on a videofluoroscopic swallowing study in stroke patients, is a sensitive and specific method for quantifying the severity of dysphagia.     

Clinical and videofluoroscopic evaluation of swallowing in 41 patients with neurologic disease

Forty-one patients with neurologic disease (ND) were evaluated by clinical and videofluoroscopic examination of the oral cavity and pharynx to assess location and severity of swallowing dysfunction using various bolus consistencies. Four different materials were given to each patient, and included low- and high-viscosity barium suspensions, barium paste, and paste-coated cookie. Thirty-five patients had abnormalities of both oral and pharyngeal function. Four patients had pharyngeal dysfunction only, and two patients were normal. Mild swallowing difficulties occurred in five patients (12%), moderate dysfunction in 29 patients (71%), and severe dysfunction in five patients (12%). Thirty-two patients had pharyngeal stasis, which was symmetric in 30 patients (94%) and asymmetric in two. Site of stasis was not related to the type of neurologic disease. Fifteen patients aspirated, most of them (13 of 15) with the low-viscosity barium suspension. The predominance of aspiration with the low-viscosity liquid emphasizes the importance of clinical and videofluoroscopic evaluation of swallowing in dysphagic patients with ND for appropriate feeding recommendations. Thus, videofluoroscopy complemented the clinical examination and defined the type and severity of swallowing abnormalities and aspiration, when present.     

The effect of nasogastric tubes on swallowing function in persons with dysphagia following stroke

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the use of a nasogastric tube influences swallowing function in stroke patients with dysphagia. DESIGN: Before-after trial. SETTING: Primary care center. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 22 patients with stroke (12 men, 10 women; mean age, 69.7 y; range, 19-85 y) participated in the study. Time from onset of stroke to time of assessment averaged 20.3 days (range, 14-38 d). All participants continued to use a nasogastric tube for nutrition supply and had either minor or no aspiration of barium on videofluoroscopic examination of swallowing (VFES). INTERVENTION: The swallowing function was evaluated by VFES with thin and thick bariums (5 mL each) as a contrast medium. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The oral transit, swallowing trigger, and pharyngeal transit times were measured and compared before and after the removal of the nasogastric tube. The patients were also observed for changes in velopharyngeal closure, pharyngeal contraction, epiglottic tilt, valleculae stasis, pyriform sinus stasis, penetration, and aspiration. RESULTS: Transit times were reduced by 0.2 to 0.6 seconds after removal of the nasogastric tube, but the reduction was not statistically significant. These transit times were slightly longer with thick barium than with thin barium, but were without statistical significance. Similarly, most of the patients had no change in nontemporal assessment of swallowing function after the tube was removed. CONCLUSIONS: The placement of a nasogastric tube did not affect temporal and nontemporal measurement of swallowing in stroke patients with dysphagia with or without minor aspiration.     

球囊扩张术对脑卒中后吞咽障碍康复疗效及不良并发症研究

目的:研究球囊扩张术对脑卒中后吞咽障碍的康复疗效及不良并发症的影响。方法:选取我院经吞咽造影检查确诊为脑卒中后环咽肌失弛缓导致的吞咽障碍患者50例,随机分为2组各25例。对照组接受常规吞咽功能训练、Vitalstim神经肌肉低频电刺激,观察组另外给予球囊扩张术治疗。比较2组患者的总有效率、吞咽功能、并发症发生率,同时比较治疗前和治疗后的咽通过时间、吞咽造影检查(VFSS)评分及功能性经口摄食评估(FOIS)评分。结果:观察组的可进水、可进食流质物、可进食糊状物、可进食固体食物比例均明显高于对照组(均P0.01);观察组的吸入性肺炎发生率明显低于对照组(P0.05);治疗后,观察组的咽通过时间明显低于对照组(P0.01),VFSS和FOIS评分均明显高于对照组(均P0.01);观察组的康复总有效率明显高于对照组(96.0%,72.0%,P0.05)。结论:球囊扩张术对脑卒中后吞咽障碍具有显著疗效,缩短患者康复时间,降低误吸等并发症的发生。     

电视透视下吞咽能力检查在口咽期吞咽障碍中的应用

目的 分析吞咽障碍患者电视透视下吞咽能力检查(VFSS)结果.方法 16例知情同意吞咽障碍患者接受VFSS检查.分别采用稀钡餐(50％ w/v)、稠钡餐(270％ w/v)、饼干沾稠钡餐进行咀嚼测试.一口量为10 ml.采用正位、侧位动态造影测试,依次观察双侧梨状窝对称情况、口期时长、咽期起始时间、咽期时长、滞留、误吸及其时间、剂量等.结果5例为口期吞咽障碍;3例为咽期吞咽障碍,显示存在咽期起始迟缓,并且有1例表现为吞咽后误吸;8例为口咽期吞咽障碍,其中5例不伴误吸,3例伴有误吸,其中2例为安静误吸,1例表现为吞咽前误吸,1例表现为吞咽后误吸(梨状窝滞留引起),1例无法判断误吸时间.4例误吸患者中,3例存在钡剂25％以上的重度误吸,1例存在5％的轻度误吸,同时配合吞咽康复治疗.结论VFSS检测可为制订吞咽障碍的康复方案提供参考.     

Identification of a simple screening tool for dysphagia in patients with stroke using factor analysis of multiple dysphagia variables.

OBJECTIVE: To identify a most useful and simple clinical screening tool to predict videofluoroscopic aspiration in patients with stroke.Design: Factor analysis of multiple dysphagia variables and sensitivity and specificity testing with chi-square test. PATIENTS: Sixty-one consecutive stroke patients with symptoms suggestive of dysphagia admitted to a university hospital and its 4 affiliated hospitals in Japan. METHODS: Factors were extracted from 6 oromotor examinations (lip closure, tongue movement, palatal elevation, gag reflex, voice quality and motor speech function), 2 swallow screen tests (saliva swallowing test and our modified water swallowing test using 30 ml of water) and 4 parameters evaluated with a videofluoroscopic swallow study. Sensitivity and specificity of each dysphagia-related variable was determined against aspiration in a videofluoroscopic swallow study. RESULTS: Factor analysis revealed that cough/voice change in the water swallowing test and aspiration on videofluoroscopic swallow study belonged to the same factor. Chi-square analysis showed that cough/voice change in the water swallowing test was the only variable that was significantly associated with aspiration on videofluoroscopic swallow study, with a sensitivity of 72% (95% CI: 61-83%) and a specificity of 67% (CI: 55-79%) as a predictor of aspiration (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: We recommend our modified 30 ml water-swallowing test as a useful single task-screening tool to detect aspiration.     

食管前性吞咽障碍评估

  目的  探讨食管前性吞咽障碍的评估方法。  方法  回顾性分析2001年1月至2011年10月北京协和医院耳鼻咽喉科16例食管前性吞咽障碍患者的临床评估资料。  结果  16例患者中9例接受反复唾液吞咽试验检查均表现异常; 8例接受洼田饮水试验检查均表现为Ⅲ级以上异常; 11例接受吞咽造影检查表现为启动延迟或不能启动, 吞咽相关误吸, 咽腭反流, 食物滞留、残留、渗漏, 环咽肌功能障碍; 11例接受内镜吞咽检查表现为声带麻痹、唾液潴留、咽喉部瘢痕、误吸等异常。  结论  反复唾液吞咽试验和洼田饮水试验可作为食管前性吞咽障碍筛查及床旁评价工具, 吞咽造影检查和内镜吞咽检查则可以精确评估吞咽障碍的发生部位及性质, 为下一步治疗提供有力的帮助。     

外周磁刺激与神经肌肉电刺激治疗脑卒中后咽期吞咽障碍的疗效对比

目的 观察对比外周磁刺激（PMS）与神经肌肉电刺激（NMES）治疗脑卒中后咽期吞咽障碍的疗效。 方法 采用随机数字表法将60例符合筛选标准的脑卒中咽期吞咽障碍患者分成对照组、电刺激组及磁刺激组,每组20例。3组患者均给予常规吞咽功能训练,电刺激组在此基础上辅以神经肌肉电刺激,磁刺激组则辅以外周磁刺激,上述干预均每天治疗2次,每周治疗6d。于治疗前、治疗4周后分别采用标准吞咽量表（SSA）、功能性经口摄食量表（FOIS）及包括渗透-误吸量表评分（PAS)和视频吞咽障碍分级（VDS)在内的视频透视吞咽检查（VFSS）对3组患者治疗效果进行评价。 结果 治疗4周后发现3组患者SSA评分、渗透-误吸量表（PAS)评分、视频吞咽障碍分级（VDS)评分及FOIS评分均较治疗前明显改善（P<0.05）;进一步分析发现,电刺激组、磁刺激组SSA评分［分别为(30.6±3.2)分、(24.1±2.8)分］、VDS评分［分别为(24.4±5.6)分、(18.2±8.2)分］、PAS评分［分别为(3.25±1.12)分、(2.56±0.66)分］及FOIS评分［分别为(4.31±0.97)分、(4.94±0.81)分］改善幅度均显著优于对照组（P<0.05）,并且磁刺激组上述指标的改善幅度亦显著优于电刺激组,组间差异具有统计学意义（P<0.05）。 结论 外周磁刺激可明显改善脑卒中后咽期吞咽障碍,其治疗效果明显优于神经肌肉电刺激。     

脑卒中急性期吞咽障碍的临床影像评价

目的:探讨脑卒中急性期吞咽障碍的临床及影像学检查的表现,分析脑卒中部位与吞咽障碍发生类型的关系。方法:首次发病的急性脑卒中患者62例,根据不同病变部位分为单侧大脑半球组、双侧大脑半球组、脑干与小脑组及多发性卒中组。入院后3d内完成临床吞咽功能评估;入院7d进行吞咽X线荧光透视检查(VFSS);记录分析吞咽障碍的类型和脑卒中的病变部位。结果:入院3d内临床吞咽评定4组患者中有29例(46.8%)存在吞咽困难,其中脑干及小脑组发生吞咽困难的百分率明显高于其他组(P0.05);于7d时VFSS检测11例能完成,其中单侧大脑半球组3例、双侧大脑半球组2例,多出现口腔期困难;脑干及小脑组2例,多出现咽期困难;多发卒中组4例,口腔期和咽期均受影响。吞咽异常表现类型为唇闭合无力、舌运动减弱、误吸及环咽肌功能不全、吞咽反射延迟、喉上抬差、会厌谷和/或梨状窝滞留、喉渗透等。结论:脑卒中后吞咽障碍的临床评定可明确吞咽口阶段的生理状态,VFSS可明确咽阶段及有无误吸。为避免吞咽困难所致的并发症及预防或治疗吞咽困难,需尽早完成吞咽评定,且可以节省患者总体费用及加快改善预后。     

Swallowing disorders in closed head trauma patients

Fifty-three closed head trauma patients with dysphagia were examined videofluorographically to determine the specific nature of their swallowing disorder. Eighty-one percent of the patients exhibited a delayed or absent swallowing reflex while approximately 50% of the patients suffered from reduced tongue control, and 33% had reduced peristalsis. Laryngeal disorders and cricopharyngeal dysfunction occurred in a small number of patients. The average head trauma patient exhibited more than one swallowing motility problem. Twenty patients aspirated, with delayed or absent swallowing reflex as the most common etiology for the aspiration. Many of these patients did not produce a reflexive cough during or after they had aspirated material into their airway. For this reason, and since the pharyngeal stage of the swallow is extremely difficult to assess with presently available bedside techniques, videofluorographic evaluation becomes an invaluable tool for identification of the precise nature of the swallowing disturbance, the presence of aspiration, and the etiology of the aspiration.     

Comparison of disordered swallowing patterns in patients with recurrent cortical/subcortical stroke and first-time brainstem stroke.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the disordered swallowing patterns in recurrent cortical/subcortical stroke and first-time brainstem stroke. DESIGN: A retrospective study. SUBJECTS: Forty-seven consecutive patients, 28 with recurrent cortical/subcortical stroke and 19 with first-time brainstem stroke, referred for dysphagic evaluation to the rehabilitation department of a medical centre. METHODS: Thirty-five male and 12 female patients with a mean age of 62.0+/-11.5 years were included. The median post-stroke duration was 17.0 days. The records of clinical examination and a videofluoroscopic study of swallowing were collected through chart review. The percentages of abnormalities seen at clinical examination and videofluoroscopic swallowing study between recurrent cortical/subcortical stroke and first-time brainstem stroke patients were compared using a chi-square test. RESULTS: The recurrent cortical/subcortical patients suffered from a higher rate of impaired tongue movement, drooling and aphasia at clinical examination and a higher percentage of swallowing abnormalities in oral-preparatory and oral phases in the videofluoroscopic swallowing study. The abnormal videofluoroscopic findings in first-time brainstem stroke patients predominantly occurred in the pharyngeal phase. Both groups had more difficulties swallowing thin barium than they did swallowing the thick and paste barium. CONCLUSION: The recurrent cortical/subcortical stroke and first-time brainstem stroke patients show different manifestations in some parameters of both clinical examination and videofluoroscopic swallowing study.     

Swallowing disorders in persons with cerebrovascular accident

Thirty-eight CVA patients with swallowing disorders were studied videofluorographically (VFG) to determine: (1) the nature of their swallowing disorders, (2) the relationship between the site of the cerebrovascular accident and the nature of the swallowing disorder(s) exhibited and (3) the frequency and etiology of any aspiration present. The 38 CVA patients exhibited a variety of physiologic disturbances in swallowing, usually occurring in combination rather than as isolated disorders. A delayed swallowing reflex was the most frequent disorder seen in all patient groups. Reduced pharyngeal peristalsis was the next most frequent disorder, followed by reduced tongue control. Only brainstem CVA patients exhibited reduced laryngeal closure. Two patients (no right CVAs) experienced cricopharyngeal dysfunction. Few differences in nature of swallowing disorders were seen according to lesion location. Approximately one third of the patients aspirated, most frequently because of delayed triggering of the swallowing reflex. All aspiration occurred because of disorders in the pharyngeal stage of the swallow, emphasizing the importance of VFG evaluation of dysphagia in CVA patients.     

Predictors of dysphagia after spinal cord injury.

OBJECTIVE: To quantify the incidence of swallowing deficits (dysphagia) and to identify factors that predict risk for dysphagia in the rehabilitation setting following acute traumatic spinal cord injury. DESIGN: Retrospective case-control study. SETTING: Freestanding rehabilitation hospital. PATIENTS: Data were collected on 187 patients with acute traumatic spinal cord injury admitted for rehabilitation over a 4-year period who underwent a swallowing screen, in which 42 underwent a videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: VFSS was performed on patients with suspected swallowing problems. Possible antecedents of dysphagia were recorded from the medical record including previous history of spine surgery, surgical approach and technique, tracheostomy and ventilator status, neurologic level of injury, ASIA Impairment Classification, orthosis, etiology of injury, age, and gender. RESULTS: On admission to rehabilitation 22.5% (n = 42) of spinal cord injury patients had symptoms suggesting dysphagia. In 73.8% (n = 31) of these cases, testing confirmed dysphagia (aspiration or requiring a modified diet), while VFSS ruled out dysphagia in 26.2% (n = 11) cases. Logistic regression and other analyses revealed three significant predictors of risk for dysphagia: age (p < .028), tracheostomy and mechanical ventilation (p < .001), and spinal surgery via an anterior cervical approach (p < .016). Other variables analyzed had no relation or at best a slight relation to dysphagia. Tracheostomy at admission was the strongest predictor of dysphagia. The combination of tracheostomy at rehabilitation admission and anterior surgical approach had an extremely high rate of dysphagia (48%). CONCLUSION: Swallowing abnormalities are present in a significant percentage of patients presenting to rehabilitation with acute traumatic cervical spinal cord injury. Patients with a tracheostomy appear to have a substantially increased risk of development of dysphagia, although other factors are also relevant. Risk of dysphagia should be evaluated to decrease the potential for morbidity related to swallowing abnormalities.     

Prediction of laryngeal aspiration using voice analysis

OBJECTIVE: To determine the diagnostic value of voice analysis to screen for patients with high risk of clinically significant aspiration. DESIGN: A total of 93 patients referred for a videofluoroscopic swallowing study were included in the study. Voice analyses were performed before and after videofluoroscopic swallowing study, and five acoustic variables were measured, including average fundamental frequency, relative average perturbation, shimmer percentage, noise-to-harmonic ratio, and voice turbulence index. The patients were divided into two groups based on the results of the videofluoroscopic swallowing study: a high-risk group with patients who had the ingested materials on or below the vocal cords and a low-risk group with patients who did not have the ingested materials on or below the vocal cords. The changes of each acoustic variable before and after the videofluoroscopic swallowing study were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Relative average perturbation, shimmer percentage, noise-to-harmonic ratio, and voice turbulence index were significantly increased after videofluoroscopic swallowing study in the high-risk group as compared with the low-risk group (P < 0.05). The change of average fundamental frequency, however, was not significantly different between the two groups (P > 0.05). According to the receiver operating characteristics curve, the sensitivity of these acoustic variables in detecting aspiration or penetration ranged from 68.9% to 91.1% and specificity ranged from 68.8% to 97.9%. Relative average perturbation was the most accurate variable, with a sensitivity of 91.1% and a specificity of 97.9% in predicting aspiration or penetration. The combination of relative average perturbation and noise-to-harmonic ratio increased the sensitivity to 100% but reduced the specificity to 77.1%. CONCLUSION: Voice analysis is a safe, noninvasive, and reliable screening tool for patients with dysphagia and can detect patients at high risk of clinically significant aspiration, thereby augmenting clinical bedside examination.     

脑卒中后病灶部位与吞咽功能的关系

目的明确脑卒中不同病灶部位与吞咽功能的关系。方法选取2005 年6 月~2007 年4 月间连续入住卒中单元的符合纳入标准的缺血性脑卒中患者。记录入院后患者头MRI所显示的陈旧及新卒中病灶的部位并进行分类。电视透视检查(VF)明确有无吞咽异常及误吸。分析病灶部位与吞咽障碍及误吸之间的关系。结果满足条件者共211 例,同时获得VF评估资料以及头MRI资料的患者共有169 例。159 例存在吞咽功能损伤,误吸94 例。口期异常72 例(9 例缺失),咽期异常150 例。不同卒中病灶间出现吞咽障碍及误吸发生率无显著性差异(P>0.05)。延髓损伤有易于误吸的趋势(P=0.056)。幕上(P=0.028)和延髓以上(P=0.005)损伤容易造成口期异常。结论大脑皮质、皮质下白质、脑干及小脑的损伤,包括单侧半球损伤均可导致吞咽障碍和误吸。延髓损伤可能容易导致误吸,幕上或延髓水平以上的损伤容易造成口期异常。     

A 12-month-old With Dysphagia and Cough

Oropharyngeal dysphagia is a dysfunction of the oral and pharyngeal phase of swallowing and can be caused by a variety of disorders. Swallowing dysfunction can allow laryngeal penetration or aspiration of small volumes of food or liquids. Infants with dysphagia may present with a history of feeding difficulties; choking episodes during feedings; and chronic symptoms, such as coughing, wheezing, or stridor. This case presentation involves a 12-month-old infant with a history of dysfunctional swallowing and coughing during feeds.     

Dysphagia in stroke: Development of a standard method to examine swallowing recovery

This study began development of a standard method that uses the videofluoroscopic swallow study for evaluation of swallowing recovery after stroke based on a definition of dysphagia derived from three domains: bolus timing, bolus direction, and bolus clearance. Two experiments were conducted: one that defined normal versus disordered swallowing based on the range of scores in a sample of healthy adults (n = 13), and one that applied these thresholds to nine stroke patients to identify the presence of dysphagia. Results indicate that acute and protracted dysphagia may be more accurately detected by identifying abnormalities on multiple objective measures of swallowing rather than on laryngeal penetration or aspiration alone. Results indicate that our selected measures and use of healthy control subjects to establish normal thresholds may eventually contribute to the definition and differentiation of dysphagic and nondysphagic patients. Further research with a broader sample of healthy controls and stroke patients is mandatory.     

Dysphagia in patients with brainstem stroke: incidence and outcome

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to delineate the incidence and outcome of dysphagia among hospitalized patients who were referred for rehabilitation because of brainstem stroke. DESIGN: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 36 patients who were admitted because of brainstem stroke. Information on the patients' clinical features, feeding status, and the results of clinical and videofluoroscopic swallowing examinations were obtained through chart review. Follow-up interviews were conducted via telephone to learn the general medical condition and feeding status of the patients 7-43 mo after hospital discharge. RESULTS: A total of 81% of the patients had dysphagia at the time of initial clinical swallowing evaluation, which was performed 10-75 days after the onset of stroke. A total of 79% of the dysphagic individuals depended on tube feeding at the initial evaluation; 22% of all individuals could not resume oral intake at discharge. Statistical analyses revealed a significant association between poor outcome and disease involving the medulla, the presence of a wet voice during the initial swallowing test, and a delay or absence of the swallowing reflex. The incidence of aspiration pneumonia was 11%. There was a correlation between the detection of aspiration by modified barium meal videofluoroscopy and the development of aspiration pneumonia. Follow-up interviews showed that 88% of the 27 patients who were contacted had resumed full oral intake 4 mo after the onset of stroke. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of dysphagia was relatively high in our study population. The long-term outcome was favorable.     

延髓背外侧综合征所致吞咽障碍的特点及相关机制

目的观察延髓背外侧综合征造成机体吞咽障碍的特点，并探讨其相关机制。方法采取横断面方式研究，对12例延髓背外侧综合征患者的吞咽功能进行临床评估及电视透视检查，观察其临床表现及电视透视下吞咽生理改变特点；同时记录患者出院及随访3个月时的吞咽功能恢复情况。结果12例患者临床吞咽障碍包括饮水、进食咽下困难、咳嗽及清嗓动作，急性期不能经口进食，需要鼻饲摄入营养；口期吞咽损伤者7例，仅表现为软腭上抬减弱，剩余患者未见明显口期损伤；12例患者咽期均有明显异常，10例患者喉上提幅度降低及无效吞咽，8例患者吞咽启动延迟。电视透视检查显示，患者口期吞咽均未见明显损伤，9例患者喉结构上抬幅度明显减弱，10例患者环咽肌打开不能，2例患者打开不全，12例患者喉穿透等。经系统吞咽康复治疗后，共有11例患者经平均治疗36d（13～50d）后拔除鼻饲导管恢复经口进食；3个月后饮食习惯与发病前一致。本研究中，病史为3年的患者经治疗后未能恢复经口进食。结论延髓背外侧综合征造成的吞咽困难多数（9／12）以喉上提明显减弱为主要特征，致使环咽肌打开不全／不能；少数患者（3／12）以环咽肌顺应性降低为主要特征，喉上提幅度尚充分。延髓背外侧综合征患者经早期康复治疗可获得良好预后，如延误治疗时机则疗效欠佳。     

琼脂增稠剂在鼻咽癌放疗术后吞咽障碍患者中的应用及临床评价

目的 观察比较新型琼脂增稠剂与传统黄原胶增稠剂在鼻咽癌放疗术后吞咽障碍患者应用中的差异。 方法 选取20例鼻咽癌放疗术后吞咽障碍患者,分别让其吞咽由琼脂或黄原胶增稠剂配制的中稠度及高稠度食物。通过吞咽造影（VFSS）定性、定量分析和主观性评价法评估患者应用情况。 结果 经吞咽造影数字化分析发现,入选患者在吞咽中稠度琼脂增稠剂食物时其咽腔收缩率（PCR）较吞咽中稠度黄原胶增稠剂食物时明显减小（P<0.05）;患者吞咽高稠度琼脂增稠剂食物时其口腔运送时间（OTT）、咽期吞咽启动时间（IPS）和PCR均较吞咽高稠度黄原胶增稠剂食物时明显减少（P<0.05）;在渗漏误吸方面,患者吞咽琼脂增稠剂食物和黄原胶增稠剂食物时并无明显差异。在主观性评价方面,患者吞咽琼脂增稠剂食物在爽滑感及残留感方面优于吞咽黄原胶增稠剂食物（P<0.01）,但在香味方面劣于吞咽黄原胶增稠剂食物（P<0.01）。 结论 与吞咽黄原胶增稠剂食物比较,吞咽琼脂增稠剂食物能缩短食团运送时间,所需咽部收缩力量较小,口咽残留较少,口感更爽滑,可作为一种新型增稠剂广泛应用于鼻咽癌放疗术后吞咽障碍患者人群。