The Importance of Video Fluoroscopy Swallowing Study for Nasogastric Tube Removal in Rehabilitation Patients

Acute phase patients who are unconscious and are suffering from cerebral infarction, cranial nerve disorders, or cerebral apoplexy are susceptible to aspiration pneumonia due to dysphagia. In these cases, a nasogastric tube is inserted to supply nutrients. Although bedside screening tests are administered during recovery after rehabilitation, clinical examinations may not be able to ascertain asymptomatic aspiration. Therefore, a video fluoroscopy swallowing study (VFSS) was performed in 10 patients with dysphagia after rehabilitation therapy; these patients had nasogastric tubes inserted, and a rehabilitation specialist assessed the degree of swallowing based on the patients' diet and posture. If aspiration or swallowing difficulties were observed, dysphagia rehabilitation therapy was administered. The patients were reassessed approximately 30-50 days after administration of therapy, based on the patients' condition. If aspiration is not observed, the nasogastric tube was removed. A functional dysphagia scale was used to analyze the VFSS images, and the scores were statistically calculated. The mean score of patients with nasogastric tubes was $49.79{\pm}9.431$, thereby indicating aspiration risk, whereas the group without nasogastric tubes showed a mean score of $11.20{\pm}1.932$, which indicated low risk of aspiration. These results demonstrated that a significantly low score was associated with nasogastric tube removal. Mann-Whitney's test was performed to assess the significance of both the groups, and the results were statistically significant with a P value <0.001. In conclusion, VFSS can effectively assess the movements and structural abnormalities in the oral cavity, pharynx, and esophagus. It can also be used to determine the aspiration status and ascertain the appropriate diet or swallowing posture for the patient. Therefore, VFSS can potentially be used as a reliable standard test to assess swallowing in order to determine nasogastric tube removal.

재활치료환자의 비위관(nasogastric tube)제거에 따른 비디오 투시연하검사(VFSS)의 중요성 평가

뇌경색, 뇌 신경장애 및 뇌졸중환자 중 급성기 환자는 의식이 없어 연하기능장애로 인한 흡인성 폐렴을 유발하기 때문에 비위관(nasogastric tube)을 삽입하고 영양공급을 한다. 재활훈련 후 회복기에 침상선별검사를 시행하지만 임상적 검사를 통해서는 무증상흡인은 발견할 수 없다. 그래서 연하장애로 비위관을 삽입한 연하재활치료 중인 환자 10명을 대상으로 VFSS를 시행하여 식이재료에 따른 삼킴 정도, 자세에 따른 삼킴을 재활의학과전문의가 평가 후, 흡인이 있거나 삼킴 곤란 등이 있으면 연하재활치료를 시행하여 환자의 상태에 따라 약 30일~50일후에 재평가를 시행한 후 흡인이 없을 시 비위관을 제거 하였다. 이때 VFSS 영상을 기능적 연하곤란척도를 이용, 분석하여 부여된 점수를 통계 산출 하였는데 비위관 유지군은 $49.79{\pm}9.431$을 보여 흡인의 위험을 나타내며, 비위관 제거군은 $11.20{\pm}1.932$로 흡인의 위험성이 낮아 비위관 제거관련 의미 있게 낮은 점수를 보였다. 두 군의 유의성을 평가하기 위해 Mann-Whitney test를 시행한 결과 p<0.001로 통계적으로 유의하다고 평가하였다. 결론적으로 VFSS는 구강, 인두, 식도의 구조적 이상과 움직임을 가장 효과적으로 평가, 기도흡인여부를 즉시 확인 및 환자에게 적합한 식이나 연하자세를 결정할 수 있어 비위관 제거를 위한 연하평가에 가장 확실한 표준검사로 제안할 수 있다.