Do Ratings of Swallowing Function Differ by Videofluoroscopic Rate? An Exploratory Analysis in Patients After Acute Stroke.
Rachel W Mulheren, Alba Azola, Marlís González-Fernández
PMID 30452891WHAT IT FOUND
Rating swallowing videos at a lower frame rate changed how clinicians scored impairment compared to the standard rate.
Some measures looked worse at the slower rate, while others looked better. This suggests lower frame rates may distort clinical judgment of swallowing function.
Key findings
01Lower frame rates altered the perceived severity of specific swallowing impairments, with some components rated more severely at 15 fps and others at 30 fps.
02Timing of swallowing events differed between frame rates, with some events appearing later or taking longer at the standard 30 fps compared to 15 fps.
03Penetration-Aspiration Scale scores did not differ significantly between the two frame rates.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The study included only 20 patients, which is a very small sample. The participants were all in the acute phase of ischemic stroke, so results may not apply to other causes of dysphagia. The study was exploratory and did not stratify patients by the severity of their swallowing impairment. Some standard assessment components could not be evaluated because the necessary video views were not available for all participants.
Declared interests
The work was supported by the National Institutes of Health (N.I.H., Extramural). No other conflicts of interest were reported in the provided text.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that lower frame rates are harmless for reducing radiation exposure. This study shows that dropping frames changes how clinicians perceive and score specific swallowing impairments, which could lead to different treatment recommendations.