The Videofluorographic Swallowing Study in Rheumatologic Diseases: A Comprehensive Review
Table 1
American Speech and Hearing Association (ASHA)—adult assessment template: videofluoroscopic swallowing exam form.
Proposal for VFSS template
(1) Firstly, specify patient’s identificative information; past, recent, surgical, and familiar medical history; past or recent medications.
(2) Focus on the reason of the examination and patient’s subjective symptoms.
(3) State the patient’s position during the procedure and specify if cooperation by the patient is enough to achieve a diagnostic exam.
(4) Indicate the types of barium meal used, bolus’ volumes, and textures administered to the patient.
(5) Specify if swallowing abnormalities (aspiration, penetration, swallow delay, and residue) are present or absent and if they occur before, during, or after swallow.
(6) Highlight swallowing abnormalities of every swallowing phase (oral, pharyngeal, and esophageal phase).
(7) Specify if backflow is observed during esophageal phase.
(8) Report provocative or therapeutic maneuvers.
(9) Specify and characterize the swallowing diagnosis of dysphagia or, if swallowing process is not impaired, highlight the normal limits of the different phases.
