Swallowing Dysfunction in Adult Patients with Chiari I Malformation

• Background Swallowing difficulties have been reported in patients with Chiari I malformation (CMI) with a prevalence of 4 to 47%, but existing evidence is based only on case reports. We aimed to prospectively study swallowing function in adult patients with CMI before and 3 months after surgical decompression. Methods We included all adult patients diagnosed with CMI from September 2015 to October 2017 who underwent a planned surgery at Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Sweden. The patients were offered the opportunity to participate in and undergo an assessment consisting of the "Watson Dysphagia Scale (WDS)" and "EORTC QLQ-OG25" written questionnaires in addition to videofluoroscopic examination of swallowing (VFS) before and 3 months after surgery. Demographic data and comorbidities were recorded. Results Eleven patients were included, nine of which underwent both pre- and postoperative evaluations. Four patients (36%) reported varying degrees of swallowing complaints (meanWDS score, 16). In two of these, there was substantial penetration of contrast material into the laryngeal vestibule on VFS, and in the other two patients, minor swallowing disturbances were observed. Borderline deviations from normal VFS findings were also found in three asymptomatic patients. Although not all VFS deviations completely disappeared after surgery, the patients reported no remaining symptoms. Conclusion Symptoms of dysphagia and objective abnormalities on VFS are not uncommon in CMI patients. Surgery has the potential to remedy underlying causes of dysphagia, thereby relieving its symptoms. OULEZZ AO, 1985, JOURNAL OF COMPUTER ASSISTED TOMOGRAPHY, V9, P1033

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Oto-rhino-laryngologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Otorhinolaryngology (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Arnold-Chiari Malformation

deglutition disorders

deglutition

surveys and questionnaires

penetration-aspiration scale

structural displacements

pharyngeal

constriction

eortc qlq-og25

dysphagia

population

cerebellum

deglutition

variability

validation

Neurosciences & Neurology

Surgery

llack if

1992

neurosurgery

v30

p709

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)