List any recent illnesses or other medical conditions. Tell your doctor about all the medications you take. neurologic disorders likely to affect swallowing.muscle weakness ( myopathy) involving the throat.masses on the tongue, throat, or larynx.known or suspected aspiration pneumonia.changes in breathing when eating or drinking.coughing, choking, or drooling with swallowing.coughing and/or choking while eating or drinking.Or, because you a condition that is strongly associated with swallowing problems, such as: Your doctor may use VFSE because you have a known or suspected problem with swallowing. Your doctor can also use VFSE to see how effective these methods are. The pathologist may also suggest thickening liquids to help prevent aspiration. These methods may include tucking or tilting the chin or turning the head while swallowing. Aspiration occurs when liquid or food goes into the airway (the trachea and bronchi) instead of staying in the pharynx (throat) and esophagus.Ī speech-language pathologist may suggest ways to help improve how you swallow. The exam is used primarily for looking at how you swallow and any evidence of aspiration. VFSE is performed on patients with dysphagia, the technical term for difficulty swallowing. What are some common uses of the procedure? Therefore, you should always clarify which exam your doctor wants to order. This can sometimes cause confusion when tests are ordered. An esophagram evaluates how the esophagus looks and operates to the level of the stomach. Or, your doctor may perform a VFSE with an esophagram ( barium swallow exam). Your doctor may use a VFSE just to look at how your muscles move when you swallow. X-rays are the oldest and most often used form of medical imaging.įluoroscopy allows your doctor to look at how your tissues and organs look and operate in real time. It exposes you to a small dose of ionizing radiation to produce pictures of the inside of the body. A speech-language pathologist also often attends the exam.Īn x-ray exam helps doctors diagnose and treat medical conditions. A VFSE allows the doctor to test your ability to swallow safely and effectively. These items may range from thin liquid barium to barium-coated cookies. The doctor watches as the patient swallows items with different thicknesses and textures. It uses a special real-time form of x-ray called fluoroscopy. What is a Video Fluoroscopic Swallowing Exam (VFSE)?Ī VFSE (modified barium swallow) exam looks at how you swallow different liquids and foods.

Download barium swallow test