Takashi Tanaka, MD, DMSc, Hitoshi Kagaya, MD, DMSc, Naoya Yamanouchi, MD, Takatoshi Iida, DDS, PhD, Seiko Shibata, MD, DMSc, Eiichi Saitoh, MD, DMSc
Jpn J Compr Rehabil Sci 11: 73-77, 2020
Objective: Barium is generally used as the contrast
medium in videofluoroscopic examination of swallowing
(VF) to evaluate swallowing function. However, no
consensus has been reached on the use of laxatives
following VF. The objectives of the present study were to
assess the status of colonic retention of barium after VF
and to examine the usefulness of laxatives.
Methods: In study 1, 88 patients who underwent VF and
abdominal radiography 3 days after VF were studied.
Barium dose, site of retention, number of sites of
retention, and gastrointestinal symptoms were evaluated.
In study 2, 51 patients who received >-10 g of barium at
VF and laxatives were compared with 63 patients who
received >-10 g of barium without laxatives in study 1.
Results: In study 1, barium retention was observed in
60 patients. The barium retention and number of sites of
retention were significantly greater in patients who
received >-10 g of barium (p < 0.001). In study 2, barium
at the most oral side moved more distally toward the
anal side in patients who received laxatives (p = 0.043)
and the number of sites of barium retention was reduced
(p = 0.017).
Conclusions: Barium retention is common when >10
g is used in VF. Administration of laxatives promotes
barium excretion.
Key words: dysphagia, videofluoroscopic examination of swallowing, barium, laxative