Article

The purpose of this study was to determine if individuals with Parkinson's
disease (PD) demonstrate abnormal respiratory events when swallowing thin
liquids. In addition, this study sought to define associations between
respiratory events, swallowing apnea duration, and penetration-aspiration (P-A)
scale scores. Thirty-nine individuals with PD were administered ten trials of a
5-ml thin liquid bolus. P-A scale score quantified the presence of penetration
and aspiration during the swallowing of a 3-oz sequential bolus. Participants
were divided into two groups based on swallowing safety judged during the 3-oz
sequential swallowing: Group 1 = P-A /= 3. Swallows were
examined using videofluoroscopy coupled with a nasal cannula to record
respiratory signals during the event(s). Findings indicated that expiration was
the predominant respiratory event before and after swallowing apnea. The data
revealed no differences in our cohort versus the percentages of post-swallowing
events reported in the literature for healthy adults. In addition, individuals
with decreased swallowing safety, as measured by the P-A scale, were more likely
to inspire after swallows and to have shorter swallowing apnea duration.
Individuals who inspired before swallow also had longer swallowing apnea
duration. The occurrence of inspiratory events after a swallow and the occurrence
of shorter swallowing apnea durations may serve as important indicators during
clinical swallowing assessments in patients at risk for penetration or aspiration
with PD.

Langue : ANGLAIS