Trial Outcomes & Findings for Respiratory Capacity and Swallowing Function in Spinal Disorders: A Pilot Study (NCT NCT04114604)

NCT ID: NCT04114604

Last Updated: 2023-04-04

Results Overview

The Penetration-Aspiration Scale is an 8-point categorical scale that is used to characterize swallowing safety for each bolus based on the depth to which any material enters the airway and whether or not the material is ejected. Levels 1 and 2 on the scale are considered safe, while levels \> 2 are considered unsafe. Actual scale scores (1-8) will be recorded and then converted to binary categorical scores (\< 3 vs \>/= 3). We report the frequency (count) of participants showing unsafe swallowing (i.e., scores \> 2) by bolus consistency.

Recruitment status

COMPLETED

Target enrollment

10 participants

Primary outcome timeframe

Baseline (single timepoint only)

Results posted on

2023-04-04

Participant Flow

Participant milestones

Participant milestones
Measure
Spinal Cord Injury
Adults who have sustained a spinal cord injury at the cervical or upper thoracic level (T6 or higher).
Overall Study
STARTED
10
Overall Study
COMPLETED
10
Overall Study
NOT COMPLETED
0

Reasons for withdrawal

Withdrawal data not reported

Baseline Characteristics

Respiratory Capacity and Swallowing Function in Spinal Disorders: A Pilot Study

Baseline characteristics by cohort

Baseline characteristics by cohort
Measure
Spinal Cord Injury
n=10 Participants
Adults who have sustained a spinal cord injury at the cervical or upper thoracic level (T6 or higher).
Age, Continuous
49 years
n=5 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
2 Participants
n=5 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
8 Participants
n=5 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Hispanic or Latino
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Not Hispanic or Latino
10 Participants
n=5 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
4 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
2 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
4 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
More than one race
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Region of Enrollment
Canada
10 participants
n=5 Participants

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: Baseline (single timepoint only)

Population: Adults who have sustained a spinal cord injury at the cervical or upper thoracic level (T6 or higher).

The Penetration-Aspiration Scale is an 8-point categorical scale that is used to characterize swallowing safety for each bolus based on the depth to which any material enters the airway and whether or not the material is ejected. Levels 1 and 2 on the scale are considered safe, while levels \> 2 are considered unsafe. Actual scale scores (1-8) will be recorded and then converted to binary categorical scores (\< 3 vs \>/= 3). We report the frequency (count) of participants showing unsafe swallowing (i.e., scores \> 2) by bolus consistency.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Thin Liquid Barium
n=10 Participants
Participants were asked to take a series of 3 comfortable sips of thin liquid barium prepared in 20% w/v concentration using Bracco E-Z-Paque powder and water.
Slightly Thick Liquid Barium
n=10 Participants
Participants were asked to take a series of 3 comfortable sips of slightly thick liquid barium prepared in 20% w/v concentration using Bracco E-Z-Paque powder, water and Nestle Resource ThickenUp Clear thickener.
Mildly Thick Liquid Barium
n=10 Participants
Participants were asked to take a series of 3 comfortable sips of mildly thick liquid barium prepared in 20% w/v concentration using Bracco E-Z-Paque powder, water and Nestle Resource ThickenUp Clear thickener.
Moderately Thick Liquid Barium
n=10 Participants
Participants were asked to take a series of 3 comfortable sips of moderately thick liquid barium prepared in 20% w/v concentration using Bracco E-Z-Paque powder, water and Nestle Resource ThickenUp Clear thickener.
Extremely Thick Liquid Barium
n=10 Participants
Participants were asked to take a series of 3 comfortable sips of extremely thick liquid barium prepared in 20% w/v concentration using Bracco E-Z-Paque powder, water and Nestle Resource ThickenUp Clear thickener.
Number of Participants Displaying Unsafe Swallowing
0 Participants
0 Participants
0 Participants
0 Participants
0 Participants

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: Baseline (single timepoint only)

Population: A sample of 10 adults was enrolled. Due to signal quality issues, data were missing for one participant across all consistencies and for an additional participant on moderately thick liquid barium.

Healthy swallowing typically occurs partway through an outward breath, such that the direction of breathing both before and after the swallow is exhalation. Whenever a swallow is followed immediately by inhalation, this is considered abnormal and a risk for food or liquid material to be sucked into the airway. We measured the direction of breathing before and after swallows via nasal cannula using the airflow module of the KayPentax Digital Swallow Workstation Swallowing Signals Lab. We report the frequency (percentage) of participants displaying at least one swallow showing post-swallow inhalation by consistency.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Thin Liquid Barium
n=9 Participants
Participants were asked to take a series of 3 comfortable sips of thin liquid barium prepared in 20% w/v concentration using Bracco E-Z-Paque powder and water.
Slightly Thick Liquid Barium
n=9 Participants
Participants were asked to take a series of 3 comfortable sips of slightly thick liquid barium prepared in 20% w/v concentration using Bracco E-Z-Paque powder, water and Nestle Resource ThickenUp Clear thickener.
Mildly Thick Liquid Barium
n=9 Participants
Participants were asked to take a series of 3 comfortable sips of mildly thick liquid barium prepared in 20% w/v concentration using Bracco E-Z-Paque powder, water and Nestle Resource ThickenUp Clear thickener.
Moderately Thick Liquid Barium
n=8 Participants
Participants were asked to take a series of 3 comfortable sips of moderately thick liquid barium prepared in 20% w/v concentration using Bracco E-Z-Paque powder, water and Nestle Resource ThickenUp Clear thickener.
Extremely Thick Liquid Barium
n=9 Participants
Participants were asked to take a series of 3 comfortable sips of extremely thick liquid barium prepared in 20% w/v concentration using Bracco E-Z-Paque powder, water and Nestle Resource ThickenUp Clear thickener.
Number of Participants Displaying Post-swallow Inhalation
2 Participants
5 Participants
3 Participants
1 Participants
2 Participants

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: Baseline (single timepoint only)

Population: A sample of 10 adults was enrolled. Due to signal quality issues, data were missing for one participant across all consistencies and for an additional participant on moderately thick liquid barium.

Healthy swallowing typically occurs partway through an outward (exhalatory) breath, and involves a pause in breathing. The duration of this respiratory pause was measured in milliseconds for each swallow based on the continuous airflow waveform collected via nasal cannula using the airflow module of the KayPentax Digital Swallow Workstation Swallowing Signals Lab. We report means and standard deviations for respiratory pause duration by consistency. Shorter respiratory pause durations reflect inadequate airway protection.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Thin Liquid Barium
n=9 Participants
Participants were asked to take a series of 3 comfortable sips of thin liquid barium prepared in 20% w/v concentration using Bracco E-Z-Paque powder and water.
Slightly Thick Liquid Barium
n=9 Participants
Participants were asked to take a series of 3 comfortable sips of slightly thick liquid barium prepared in 20% w/v concentration using Bracco E-Z-Paque powder, water and Nestle Resource ThickenUp Clear thickener.
Mildly Thick Liquid Barium
n=9 Participants
Participants were asked to take a series of 3 comfortable sips of mildly thick liquid barium prepared in 20% w/v concentration using Bracco E-Z-Paque powder, water and Nestle Resource ThickenUp Clear thickener.
Moderately Thick Liquid Barium
n=8 Participants
Participants were asked to take a series of 3 comfortable sips of moderately thick liquid barium prepared in 20% w/v concentration using Bracco E-Z-Paque powder, water and Nestle Resource ThickenUp Clear thickener.
Extremely Thick Liquid Barium
n=9 Participants
Participants were asked to take a series of 3 comfortable sips of extremely thick liquid barium prepared in 20% w/v concentration using Bracco E-Z-Paque powder, water and Nestle Resource ThickenUp Clear thickener.
Duration of the Respiratory Pause Seen in Swallowing
901 milliseconds
Standard Deviation 485
996 milliseconds
Standard Deviation 573
867 milliseconds
Standard Deviation 455
721 milliseconds
Standard Deviation 275
815 milliseconds
Standard Deviation 541

Adverse Events

Spinal Cord Injury

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 0 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Serious adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Other adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Additional Information

Director, Swallowing Rehabilitation Research Laboratory

KITE Research Institute - Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, University Health Network

Phone: 416 597 3422

Results disclosure agreements

  • Principal investigator is a sponsor employee
  • Publication restrictions are in place