We investigated the pharyngeal swallowing function using videomanofluorometry (VMF) in patients after medullary cerebrovascular accidents. Upper esophageal sphincter pressure, which should drop when a bolus arrives at the hypopharynx, increased at the same time as the elevation of oropharyngeal and hypopharyngeal pressures. A reduction of oropharyngeal and hypopharyngeal swallowing pressures was also observed. Our results suggest that a misprogrammed excitatory output from the central pattern generators of the brain stem would cause an abnormal pressure-traveling pattern of pharyngeal swallowing. VMF was useful to assess the pharyngeal swallowing function and to determine the indications for cricopharyngeal myotomy for patients after medullary cerebrovascular accidents.

Keywords:
Dysphagia, Medullary cerebrovascular accidents, Manometric abnormality
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© 2002 S. Karger AG, Basel
2002
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