Ann Rehabil Med.  2013 Jun;37(3):426-429. 10.5535/arm.2013.37.3.426.

The Effect of Balloon Dilation at the Vallecular Using Videofluoroscopic Swallowing Study on Patient Who Has a Dysphagia

• Kim YK
• Kim MT
• Kim SK

• KMID: 2219541
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5535/arm.2013.37.3.426

Abstract

Authors have previously experienced the effect of balloon dilation at the vallecular by utilizing the video-fluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) and the urethral catheter to physically stretch and spread in the direction of the posterior inferior towards the patients who have claimed for dysphagia symptoms due to epiglottic dysfunction. A 72-year-old male patient has been diagnosed with rectal cancer and have been treated with an ileocolostomy after the intubation. After the removal of tracheal intubation, the patient complained of dysphagia. Foods and drinks could not be transmigrated into the esophagus due to the inability of the epiglottis to bend backward in the direction of posterior inferior on VFSS. The epiglottis was physically stretched and spread in the direction of posterior inferior by utilizing the balloon attached to a urethral catheter. After stretching and spreading the epiglottis in the direction of posterior inferior, the bolus remaining in the epiglottic vallecula was decreased. For a patient who is experiencing dysphagia due to an epiglottis disorder, it seems that an epiglottis balloon dilation supported by VFSS and a urethral catheter may be appropriate for the treatment of dysphagia symptoms.

Keyword

Epiglottis; Dysphagia; Balloon dilation

MeSH Terms

Deglutition
Deglutition Disorders
Epiglottis
Esophagus
Humans
Intubation
Male
Rectal Neoplasms
Urinary Catheters

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Balloon dilatation at the vallecula.

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  Fig. 2 During-swallow bent back of epiglottis before (A) and after (B) balloon dilation.

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  Fig. 3 Post-swallow vallecular remnant before (A) and after (B) balloon dilation.

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