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The association of swallowing dysfunction and aspiration pneumonia

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Abstract

The medical literature has emphasized that aspiration of gastric contents or oral bacteria is a common cause of aspiration pneumonia. Swallowing disorders have been implicated in this disease but not studied at the time that aspiration pneumonia was diagnosed. A significant difference was found in the incidence of videofluoroscopically confirmed oropharyngeal swallowing problems in a group of patients diagnosed with aspiration pneumonia (AP) when compared with patients with nonaspiration pneumonia (NAP). Six of the 9 patients in the AP group aspirated during the videofluoroscopic evaluation and 2 others were considered to be at risk for aspiration. None of the 7 NAP patients demonstrated swallowing problems or aspiration. A significant difference in oral transit time also occurred between the two groups. Liquid was found to have a significantly faster oral transit time than paste or a cookie. Pharyngeal transit times were not found to be significantly different. Although there were only a small number of patients who met the criteria for this pilot study, a strong association was found between swallowing dysfunction and aspiration pneumonia.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Evelyn Trammell Voice and Swallowing Center, Saint Joseph's Hospital of Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

    Bonnie J. W. Martin PhD & Marilyn M. Corlew PhD (Chief)

  2. Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA

    Helen Wood MD

  3. Saint Luke's Medical Center, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA

    David Olson MD

  4. Saint Joseph's Hospital, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA

    Lawrence A. Golopol MD

  5. Christie Clinic, Champaign, Illinois, USA

    Michael Wingo MD

  6. Loyola University of Chicago, Maywood, Illinois, USA

    Nigar Kirmani MD

Authors
  1. Bonnie J. W. Martin PhD
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  2. Marilyn M. Corlew PhD
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  3. Helen Wood MD
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  4. David Olson MD
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  5. Lawrence A. Golopol MD
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  6. Michael Wingo MD
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  7. Nigar Kirmani MD
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Additional information

This study was conducted at Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

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Martin, B.J.W., Corlew, M.M., Wood, H. et al. The association of swallowing dysfunction and aspiration pneumonia. Dysphagia 9, 1–6 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00262751

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00262751

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