Effect of Posture Strategies on Preventing Aspiration

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of postural change on preventing aspiration , and the types of swallowing disorder that were influenced by posture. Ninety-five patients that were examined by aspiration of barium during videofluoroscopic examination of oropharyngeal swallow assumed one of four postures (chin down, head rotation, chin down + head rotation, and head back to chin down). Postural strategies were successful in eliminating aspiration in 68(72%) of the 95 patients. Twenty five of the 68 patients, however, needed an additional change in bolus volume to eliminate aspiration. Effective postures eliminating aspiration were chin down for 43 patients, head rotation for 10 patients, chin down + head rotation for 12 patients, and head back to chin down for 3 patients. The successs rates of posture changes for each swallowing abnormality were 76% for reduced tongue base retraction, 74% for delay in triggering pharyngeal swallow, 74% for reduced laryngeal elevation, 73% for laryngeal paralysis, 68% for inefficient oral transit, and in 57% for cricopharyngeal dysfunction. Among individuals with cricopharyngeal dysfunction or with than three swallowing motility problems, the frequency of unsuccessful swallow despite postural change was significantly higher than that of successful swallow. These results indicated that the posture strategies in addition to control of bolus volume could prevent aspiration in more than 70% of patients, but the efficacy of posture techniques differented with the different types of swallowing disorder identified as causing the aspiration, and suggested that the posture strategies were less beneficial in individuals with cricopharyngeal dysfunction or exhibiting multiple swallowing disorders.