Oropharyngeal swallowing in chronic renal failure

ABSTRACT

Objective:

To characterize the oropharyngeal swallowing profile of patients with chronic renal failure.

Methods:

A cross-sectional clinical study involving 20 adults diagnosed with chronic renal failure in hospital stay was conducted. The evaluation of swallowing was performed by videofluoroscopy, and characterization of findings was based on effectiveness and safety parameters. Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS) was also applied.

Results:

On videofluoroscopy, 16 patients presented changes in oral and pharyngeal patterns, three individuals presented impairment at the pharyngeal phase, and only one individual presented changes only at the oral phase of swallowing. Furthermore, videofluoroscopy showed penetration and tracheal aspiration in 30% of the sample. Before the videofluoroscopy, four individuals (20%) were at level 5 of FOIS scale, whereas 16 individuals (80%) were at level 7. After adjustments of the oral diet consistency because of safety and swallowing effectiveness, FOIS classification was six individuals at level 1, seven at level 4, four at level 5, and three at level 6.

Conclusion:

The characterization of oropharyngeal swallowing profile in chronic renal patients showed abnormalities at oral and pharyngeal phase, including penetration and tracheal aspiration, which requires oral intake changes.

Keywords:
Renal Failure; Speech-Language and Hearing; Swallowing Disorders.

RESUMO

Objetivo:

Caracterizar o perfil de deglutição orofaríngea em indivíduos com insuficiência renal crônica (IRC).

Métodos:

Estudo clínico transversal do qual participaram 20 indivíduos adultos com diagnóstico médico de IRC, durante o período de internação hospitalar. A avaliação objetiva da deglutição foi realizada por videofluoroscopia de deglutição (VFD), sendo a caracterização e classificação dos achados baseada em parâmetros de eficácia e segurança. Além disso, foi aplicada a Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS).

Resultados:

A análise da VFD mostrou que 16indivíduos apresentaram alteração de fase oral e faríngea, três indivíduos apresentaram alterações somente de fase faríngea e um indivíduo apresentou alterações exclusivas de fase oral da deglutição. Além disso, por meio da VFD foi constatada penetração e aspiração laringotraqueal em 30% dos indivíduos. Previamente à realização da VFD, foi verificado que quatro indivíduos (20%) encontravam-se no nível 5 da FOIS, enquanto 16 indivíduos (80%) encontravam-se no nível 7. Após as adequações de alteração da consistência da dieta via oral devido aos prejuízos de segurança e à eficiência da deglutição, a classificação da FOIS passou a representar 6 indivíduos no nível 1, 7 no nível 4, 4 no nível 5 e 3 no nível 6.

Conclusão:

A caracterização do perfil de deglutição orofaríngea em indivíduos com IRC mostrou alterações de fase oral e faríngea, inclusive com penetração e aspiração laringotraqueal, com necessidade de mudanças no nível de ingestão oral.

Descritores:
Insuficiência Renal; Fonoaudiologia; Transtornos de Deglutição.

INTRODUCTION

Although the mechanisms involved in chronic renal failure (CRF) are not clear yet, patients with CRF may present, in addition to the inflammatory process, changes in regulation of the hypothalamic pituitary gland, the immune system, sleep patterns, mood, and swallowing, and the occurrence of symptoms depend on the disease, dietary habits, and the level of reduction in renal function^{1 2 3 4}.

Because swallowing is a complex act that requires the integrity of various neuronal systems involved in the integration of stimuli, central nervous system and motor response⁵any conditions affecting this integration can lead to dysphagia. Because CRF is a condition that leads to levels of consciousness change and xerostomia⁴, the investigation of the hypothesis that patients may present oropharyngeal dysphagia is justified.

Despite the clinical observation of abnormalities in oropharyngeal swallowing of patients with CRF during hospital stay, this phenomenon has not yet been scientifically investigated. Only one study, using a structured questionnaire addressed oral symptoms in CRF, pointing xerostomia⁴ as main complaint and on clinical evaluation, which is relevant, as this is a predictive factor for oropharyngeal dysphagia⁶.

The research on the biomechanics of swallowing is cases of CRF aims to contribute to the understanding of causes and consequences of various clinical symptoms known to be related to dysphagia, besides raising the possible need and targeting of early intervention with regard to safety and effectiveness of swallowing in this population. The objective of this study was to describe the oropharyngeal swallowing profile of patients with CRF.

METHODS

This is a cross-sectional clinical trial complying with study protocol approved by the institution number 0667/2013. All individuals and/or legal representatives were aware and signed the Informed Consent form, according to recommendations of Resolution 196/96 of the National Health Council on Guidelines and Norms Regulating research involving human beings.

Twenty individuals with medical diagnosis of CRF in hospital stay for hemodialysis participated in this study, excluding those who were using psychoactive drugs, presenting neurological changes or invasive medical intervention such as intubation. Seven of these were males and 13 were females, all of them of the age from 29 to 79 years (mean 54.9 ± 3.3 years).

Before the procedures of swallowing assessment, we conducted an informal clinical interview with all the patients from the CRF group about potential oropharyngeal complaints, and the only complaint reported by 100% of CRF patients was the feeling of xerostomia, under the name of "dry mouth."

At this point, the neurological Glasgow Coma Scale was applied to identify patients' level of consciousness, which was found to score 14:15.

Videofluoroscopic evaluation of swallowing

The videofluoroscopic evaluation of swallowing (VFS) was held at a philanthropic hospital where patients with CRF were hospitalized. In all cases, VFS was performed on the first day of hospitalization before the first hemodialysis session. An speech language pathologist, a radiology technician, and a nursing technician participated in the exam. Evaluation of swallowing involved addition of radiological contrast barium sulfate (Bariogel^@) in food consistencies that obey the standards of the American Dietetic Association⁷.

Each individual with CRF was evaluated during swallowing of liquid consistencies, nectar and honey⁷, offered in a spoon with 5, 10, and 15 mL (totaling three tablespoons for each food consistency). Liquids were initially provided in a 5-mL spoon, and then by freely swallowing (in a glass).

To prepare consistencies and volumes, we used a disposable plastic cup, disposable plastic spoon, 20-mL syringe (for measuring volumes), barium sulfate, instant food thickener with a thickening agent of modified corn starch and maltodextrin, and diet pear-flavored juice powder (previously diluted in 500 mL of water). The measurer was provided by the food thickener manufacturer. Next, VFS was performed with barium sulfate at 50% to 50% food consistency, so it would not go through changes.

To perform the examination, patients were sitting at 90°. The anatomical limits ranged from the oral cavity into the esophagus, anterior limit was set by the lips, posterior limit by the pharyngeal wall, upper limit by the nasopharynx, and the lower limit by cervical esophagus⁸.

The equipment used was a C-arm from Siemens, model Cerimobil. The images were transferred to a video monitor attached to the C-arm and recorded by means of "double caption," where the examination of the images was captured from the monitor using a high-definition camcorder machine, and subsequently recorded on a DVD.

Characterization of swallowing findings

Characterization and classification of VFS findings were based on effectiveness and safety parameters proposed in the literature by Clavé⁹. Thus, the findings were characterized as described: presence of swallowing biomechanics without losses; abnormalities in oral phase of swallowing (presence of oral incoordination, loss in propulsion, and oral residue); abnormalities in pharyngeal stage of swallowing (presence of residue, penetration, and tracheal aspiration); and abnormalitiesin oral and pharyngeal phases (presence of oral incoordination, loss in propulsion, oral residue, penetration, and tracheal aspiration).

Functional Oral Intake Scale

To characterize the level of oral intake, Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS) was applied, as proposed by Crary¹⁰, before and after the evaluation of swallowing by VFS.

Videofluoroscopic findings of swallowing and the level of oral intake were individually analyzed and grouped according to similarities, using as criteria the presence of tracheal aspiration and age groups of individuals. In addition, on data analysis, the presence of tracheal aspiration was related to standard characterization of biomechanics of oropharyngeal swallowing and to FOIS as proposed by Clavé⁹.

RESULTS

Swallowing profiles defined by analyzing VFS findings of individuals with CRF showed that among 20 patients studied, 16 presented abnormalities in oral and pharyngeal phase (mean age 53.75 ± 3.8 years), 3 presented changes only in the pharyngeal phase (mean age 65 ± 2.5 years), and 1 of them presented changes in the oral phase of swallowing (43 years). None of the subjects presented unchanged swallowing biomechanics (Figure 1).

Figure 1:
Swallowing findings in chronic renal failure obtained by videofluoroscopy (n=20)

With respect to oral intake, FOIS put 4 individuals (20%) with CRF at level 5 and 16 individuals (80%) at level 7, before VFS (Figure 2A). On completion of VFS, there was a change in FOIS levels of six subjects to level 1, seven to Level 4, four to level 5, and three to level 6 (Figure 2B).

Figure 2:
Number of patients in the renal failure group at all intake phases (1-7) according to the Functional Oral Intake Scale, before (A) and after (B) videofluoroscopy (n=20)

Furthermore, VFS showed penetration and tracheal aspiration in 30% of individuals. Among these, two patients (33.3%) were at FOIS level 5, and four subjects (66.6%) were at FOIS level 7 before VFS (Figure 3A). Individual descriptions of difficulties in swallowing, according to parameters by Clave⁹, are shown in Table 1.

Figure 3:
Number of individuals with CRF presenting aspiration at videofluoroscopy in all FOIS levels before assessment (A) and in all phases: changes in oral phase, changes in pharyngeal phase, and changes in oral and pharyngeal phases, according to swallowing profile found in VFS (B) (n=20)

Table 1:
Videofluoroscopic findings in chronic renal failure

• Caption: F = female; M = male; FOIS = Functional Oral Intake Scale; VFS = videofluoroscopy of swallowing; OP = oral phase; PP = pharyngeal phase;

Whenever presence of tracheal aspiration was related to the classification of VSF findings, presence of tracheal aspiration seen in one individual (16.6%) was rated as change in pharyngeal phase, and in five individuals (83.3%) were identified with changes in the oral and pharyngeal phases of swallowing (Figure 3B).

DISCUSSION

The production of knowledge about parameters that indicate disorders in swallowing biomechanics in various diseases is still an evolving procedure in dysphagia research¹¹. This study was the first to describe the biomechanics of orophyngeal swallowing in patients with CRF.

VFS showed high incidence (80%) of abnormalities in oral and pharyngeal phases in subjects with CRF, a lower percentage (15%) of cases with abnormalities in the pharyngeal phase only, and one case (5%) of abnormalities in the oral phase of swallowing. Although one cannot compare these epidemiological data with other studies in the same population, as this was the first study to perform such investigation, data show a high incidence of oropharyngeal dysphagia in CRF patients when compared with the same method in populations known to be at risk for this dysfunction, such as individuals with neurological impairments after a stroke^{12 13 14}. These data, coupled with the fact that none of the CRF patients presented unchanged swallowing biomechanics, position CRF at the same level of diseases that cause clinical pictures of oropharyngeal dysphagia, which points to the need for research and early speech therapy intervention.

The main point of this evaluation of CRF was the presence of tracheal aspiration in 30% of the sample. This finding, if not diagnosed or properly treated, may favor nutritional and immunity loss, leading to the acquisition of other diseases and even to death¹⁵.

At this point, it should be noted that this disease has an instable clinical picture. The clinical manifestations of CRF can be divided into symptoms that improve, persist, or arise because of dialysis, which is indicated when, despite treatment with hypoproteic diet, diuretics, and antihypertensives, neurological and gastrointestinal symptoms remain¹⁶. Dialysis could be responsible for a case also known as "dialysis dementia" that may include speech and language disorders or even swallowing disorders (during or after dialysis); months later, these features become persistent, associated with myoclonus, seizures, balance, and cognitive disorders, affecting mainly the memory¹⁷.

Considering that this spectrum of symptoms can be changed during hospital stay and with renal replacement therapy, all subjects were analyzed on the first day of hospitalization and before the first hemodialysis session.

Among individuals showing presence of aspiration, 33.3% were at FOIS level 5, and 66.6% at level 7 before VFS. These data show that this population had unmanaged oral diet at this point, with consequences to swallowing noted by VFS. Once aspiration was noted, there was a change in eating behavior, with restrictions to food consistency in oral diet or even the use of alternative means of supply.

As FOIS is a tool used for the classification of the type of diet of an individual, one can say that a given change in FOIS after VFS is related to the need for change in the consistency of the oral diet because of losses in safety and efficiency of swallowing observed in the objective examination of swallowing^{11 18 19}.

On the whole, these findings suggest that abnormalities in oropharyngeal swallowing can be a part of CRF clinical image and highlight the need to investigate the causes of this phenomenon.

The speech pathologist evaluation in the clinical manifestations of CRF can be a determining factor to avoid potential complications arising from the presence of abnormalities in the biomechanics of oropharyngeal swallowing.

Based on these findings, the need for the clinical examination of swallowing in this population must be emphasized by request of the medical staff, a routine procedure in the institution where the study was conducted.

As a future perspective, this study raises the need for the definition of swallowing profile after hospital stay in this population. Another parameter to be investigated in further studies is the presence of dry mouth sensation described by these patients, as this symptom affects proper formation of bolus and contributes to changes in the oral phase of swallowing, thus interfering with the quality and safety of feeding^{4 6}.

Other possible factors as causes of oropharyngeal dysphagia in CRF would be complications and/or comorbidities that impact the neuromotor system, such as neuropathy and uremic encephalopathy, changes in levels of consciousness, attention and associated alert or sleeping disorders, neuronal damage induced by uremic toxins, ischemic brain injury, oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and anemia^{4 20 21 22 23 24}, which also need to be investigated.

In addition to dementia, uremic neuropathy, and uremic encephalopathy, the literature also describes frequent comorbid conditions in CRF such as anemia, calcium and phosphorus metabolism alterations, metabolic acidosis, malnutrition, cardiovascular disease, peripheral vascular disease, retinopathy, and diabetic neuropathy. When it comes to anemia, most common symptoms are tiredness and exhaustion, breathlessness and arrhythmia, and the possibility of headache, ringing in the ears, dysgeusia, and dysphagia²⁰.

In addition, data point to the need for further research on relation between biomechanics of swallowing and clinical manifestations and possible complications of CRF, which can help to build knowledge and to contribute to the multidisciplinary treatment of this population.

CONCLUSION

The characterization of oropharyngeal swallowing profile in patients with CRF showed abnormalities in oral and pharyngeal phases, including penetration and tracheal aspiration, and requiring management in the oral intake.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

We would like to thank Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) for the support (process 2011/51495-4), and National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq), universal edital (480208/2013-1).

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• 4
  Study carried out at Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Marília - Marília (SP), Brazil.

Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  Feb 2016

History

• Received
  11 Mar 2015
• Accepted
  16 June 2015