Takayuki MITSUISHI, Kyoko MITSUISHI, Ryoji NAKANISHI, Hiroaki YAMANAGA

Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Kumamoto Kinoh Hospital

(Received 21 March 2005; accepted 11 April 2005)

Abstract: We studied the dominant bolus passage side at the cricopharyngeal portion and any changes during an observation period in 29 dysphagia patients with Wallenberg's syndrome using videofluoroscopic examination of their swallowing function. In 20 cases, the period when the affected side was the dominant bolus passage side was not confirmable. In 9 cases, the period when the affected side was the dominant bolus passage side was confirmable. The dominant bolus passage side was the affected side at first in 5 cases, but then changed to the non-affected side. The dominant passage side in one case changed from both sides non-passage to affected side to non-affected side. In 3 cases, the dominant passage side was confirmed only in the affected side. The dominant bolus passage side in Wallenberg's syndrome was in some cases the affected side, and it was confirmed that there were also cases where the affected side changed. Confirmation of the dominant passage side is important to implement the best method of oral feeding. A relaxed state of the cricopharyngeal muscle in the affected side may have an influence on the cricopharyngeal opening in Wallenberg's syndrome.

Key words: swallowing disorder, Wallenberg's syndrome, bulbar palsy, cricopharyngeal muscle, videofluorography