Pharyngeal transit time in different consistency of food using Fiberoptic Evaluation of Swallowing

Background: In Indonesia, no research has been carried out or reported on pharyngeal transit time and a view of the swallowing process in a sample without complaints of dysphagia using the Flexible Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES) method and using five food consistencies. Purpose: To obtain the value of pharyngeal transit time and a view of the swallowing process in subjects without dysphagia problems. Method: Twenty-eight subjects without dysphagia (based on Ohkuma’s Dysphagia Screening) underwent FEES to determine pharyngeal transit time and dysphagia profile based on leakage, standing secretion, residue, penetration, and aspiration. Result: The median value of pharyngeal transit time on puree consistency was 0.799(0.499-5.666), gastric rice 0.966(0.433-5.733), oatmeal 0.849(0.533- 4.399), thick liquid 0.982(0.399-4.633), thin liquid 0.566(0.366-1.366). The pharyngeal delay time on the puree consistency was 0.566(0.199-5.333), gastric rice 0.799(0.233-2.799), oatmeal 0.899(0.099-3.633), thick liquid 0.833(0.033-3.733), and thin liquid mean was 0.294 (± 0.232). The pharyngeal response time on the puree consistency was 0.566(0.167-1.300), gastric rice 0.583(0.300-2.934), oatmeal 0.583(0.367- 1.233), thick liquid 0.549(0.333-1.533), thin liquid 0.549(0.366-1.399). There was no standing secretion, pre-swallowing leakage, penetration, and aspiration found in FEES. A grade 1 residue was found in 3(10.7%) subjects of puree, in 2(7.2%) subjects of gastric rice, in 3(10.7%) subjects of oatmeal, and in 9(32.2%) subjects of thick liquid. Conclusion: There was no prolonged pharyngeal transit time, pre-swallowing leakage, standing secretion, penetration, and aspiration in all subjects without dysphagia complaints at all food consistencies. There was minimal residue within normal limits in some subjects.