"嚥下内視鏡検査は嚥下機能の評価や嚥下障害の診断に必須の検査であるが，内視鏡挿入による不快感や鼻咽腔の閉鎖制限あるいは咽頭への刺激が嚥下動態に何らかの影響を及ぼすことも考えられる。本研究では内視鏡挿入の有無および外径の違いが嚥下動態にどのように影響するかを，健常人を対象に嚥下造影検査で検討した。実際にはシリコン製チューブを経鼻的に咽頭に挿入して内視鏡の代用とした。また各条件での嚥下困難感や不快感について自覚的評価も行った。その結果，チューブの有無および径の違いによる嚥下動態への影響はみられなかったものの，内視鏡の太さの違いは自覚的な嚥下困難感や挿入後の不快感に大きく影響することが示された。健常人ではチューブの有無や径の違いは嚥下動態にほとんど影響しないと思われるものの，自覚的評価の結果から嚥下内視鏡検査には，より外径の細い内視鏡を使用することが望ましいと考えられる。"

"Although videoendoscopic swallowing examination is indispensable for diagnosis or evaluation of swallowing disorders, discomfort or excessive stimulation of the pharynx due to insertion of endoscopic instruments, as well as possible interference with velopharyngeal closure by the endoscope, may affect some aspects of swallowing dynamics. In this study, we examined the extent to which the diameter of the endoscope or insertion of the endoscope itself could affect swallowing dynamics in healthy adults with no complaint of dysphagia, using videofluoroscopic swallowing examination (VF). We also examined the degree of pharyngeal discomfort and difficulty swallowing caused by insertion of the endoscope, using a visual analog scale (VAS). Silicone suction tubes with two different diameters were inserted as substitutes for a real endoscope. VF showed no significant differences in swallowing dynamics related to the presence and diameter of the suction tube, whereas the VAS score reported significant differences in pharyngeal discomfort and difficulty swallowing. We concluded that a thinner endoscope is preferable for endoscopic swallowing examination, although the diameter of the endoscope may not significantly affect swallowing dynamics in healthy adults."

原著