[Dysphagia] VF anterior view

[Janet.finger at kindredhealthcare.com (Janet.finger@kindredhealthcare.com)]

"...if only lateral views are done, it is impossible to tell on which side something is occurring."


AP view is certainly preferred to answer this question, but it is not "impossible" to tell on a lateral view. Well, I guess if your view was PERFECTLY lateral it would be pretty impossible. But most of the time the view is actually some degree of oblique, which can show asymmetry. I for one usually can't get my patients to keep their heads stiffly in one position so that it is a perfectly lateral view throughout a whole study (not that I try). I often have pts slowly turn their head to each side (not while swallowing), & can usually get a good idea of asymmetry that way. Can't look at vocal fold motion that way, though, & it is certainly not the most optimal way to look for asymmetry I admit. But most of my studies are on pts who are in bed, using a c-arm (trach/vent facility, lots of bariatrics). We are not able to get an AP view very easily; fortunately I find I can usually get all the information I need with lateral & oblique.










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