| Abstract: | Aspiration and its potential complications, bronchopneumonia and other pulmonary diseases, were studied in 67 fully conscious and mobile patients with cineradiographically verified dysfunction of swallowing. They were compared to a group of 67 patients of similar age with normal swallowing. Bronchopneumonia was found in nine (13%) of the patients with aspiration compared to two (3%) of the patients without (p = 0.05). Chronic pulmonary disease was more frequently observed in patients with aspiration than in those without, seven (10%) and one (1.5%), respectively (p = 0.03). Even though pulmonary complications of defective closure of the laryngeal vestibule are not frequent, swallowing training for fully conscious and relatively mobile patients would seem desirable. |
