Objective
To investigate the temporal and kinematic parameters of hyoid bone excursion (HBE) in head and neck cancer (HNC) patients with and without aspiration.
Methods
Videofluoroscopic swallowing study images from 28 HNC patients were divided into aspiration and non-aspiration groups. The kinematic parameters of HBE, including displacement, instantaneous velocity, and instantaneous acceleration, as well as the timing of reaching maximal values in these parameters, were analyzed.
Results
The timings of reaching maximal horizontal (2.37±1.10 seconds vs. 1.09±1.58 seconds, p=0.010; 0.68±0.28 vs. 0.37±0.26, p=0.010 for percentage of time), vertical (1.83±2.06 seconds vs. 0.86±1.42 seconds, p=0.020) and hypotenuse instantaneous velocities (2.36±1.96 seconds vs. 0.79±1.20 seconds, p=0.006; 0.60±0.33 vs. 0.33±0.24, p=0.028 for percentage of time), as well as the timings of reaching maximal horizontal (2.22±1.50 seconds vs. 0.90±1.26 seconds, p=0.009; 0.60±0.32 vs. 0.37±0.29, p=0.041 for percentage of time), vertical (2.09±1.94 seconds vs. 0.83±1.19 seconds, p=0.003), and hypotenuse instantaneous accelerations (2.49±1.93 seconds vs. 0.81±1.24 seconds, p=0.004; 0.65±0.34 vs. 0.34±0.28, p=0.026 for percentage of time) were significantly prolonged in the aspiration group. After signal smoothing, the aspiration group exhibited delayed timing in reaching maximal horizontal instantaneous velocity (2.07±1.09 seconds vs. 0.74±1.10 seconds, p=0.004; 0.58±0.29 vs. 0.32±0.24, p=0.017 for percentage of time), as well as maximal horizontal (2.18±1.16 seconds vs. 1.12±1.46 seconds, p=0.008) and hypotenuse accelerations (2.21±2.50 seconds vs. 0.81±1.21 seconds, p=0.011). There were no significant between-group differences in other kinematic parameters, except for horizontal displacement (7.66±6.26 mm vs. 12.14±5.82 mm, p=0.042).
Conclusion
The timings of reaching maximal instantaneous velocities and accelerations of HBE, rather than the maximum values of these kinematic parameters, may be critical parameters related to aspiration in HNC patients.

Objective
To construct a prognostic model for unsuccessful removal of nasogastric tube (NGT) was the aim of our study.
Methods
This study examined patients with swallowing disorders receiving NGT feeding due to stroke or traumatic brain injury in a regional hospital. Clinical data was collected, such as age, sex, body mass index (BMI), level of activities of daily living (ADLs) dependence. Additionally, gather information regarding the enhancement in Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS) levels and the increase in food types according to the International Dysphagia Diet Standardization Initiative (IDDSI) after one month of swallowing training. A stepwise logistic regression analysis model was employed to predict NGT removal failure using these parameters.
Results
Out of 203 patients, 53 patients (26.1%) had experienced a failed removal of NGT after six months of follow-up. The strongest predictors for failed removal were age over 60 years, underweight BMI, total dependence in ADLs, and ischemic stroke. The admission prediction model categorized patients into high, moderate, and low-risk groups for removal failure. The failure rate of NGT removal was high not only in the high-risk group but also in the moderate-risk groups when there was no improvement in FOIS levels and IDDSI food types.
Conclusion
Our predictive model categorizes patients with brain insults into risk groups for swallowing disorders, enabling advanced interventions such as percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy for high-risk patients struggling with NGT removal, while follow-up assessments using FOIS and IDDSI aid in guiding rehabilitation decisions for those at moderate risk.

Citations

• Nutrition therapy in patients with moderate to severe traumatic brain injury in the inpatient rehabilitation and subacute setting: A scoping review
  Sarah Dunthorne, Sarah Kirsanovs, Nikita Wilson-Beddoe, Marc Campbell, Sara Dowling, Miranda Green, Lee-anne Chapple, Paige Wicks
  Injury.2025; 56(12): 112844.     CrossRef