What to expect if you are having a video fluoroscopy

My 2 year old son is going in for a video fluoroscopy next week.  He has Hemiplegia and is epileptic, the procedure is to check his swallow as he struggles to swallow solids and dribbles a lot! Can anyone give me some info on what to expect. Will he be put to sleep? What are they actually looking for?

A videofluroscopy (VF), also known as a barium swallow, is a medical investigation that allows a professional to view the swallowing process in slow motion.
The process of swallowing is very complex which means that a problem can occur at many different stages.  Swallowing difficulties are known as dysphagia and successful management depends on knowing what part of the swallow is going wrong.

 

What are VFs for?

If a patient is having trouble swallowing or a child dribbles excessively a speech and language therapist (SALT) will do a swallowing assessment.  However, this does not show what is happening in the patient’s mouth and throat.  A VF can let a SALT see:

  1. If food is going into your airway instead of your stomach.  This is called aspiration and can cause frequent chest infections
  2. Which parts of the mouth and throat may not be working well
  3. What kinds of food are safest for you to swallow.  Food with different consistencies move down your throat differently and depending on the type of dysphagia can be more difficult to swallow
  4. If certain positions or strategies help you swallow safer
 

What to expect

The procedure will take place in the Radiology/X-ray department in a hospital.  Your speech and language therapist should meet you there and a radiologist, radiology technician and nursing staff will also be present.

A VF is a quick and simple procedure but can be quite scary for young children as they are awake during the procedure and have to interact with strangers.  As X-rays are used everyone in the room will have to wear protective lead vests, which can again make children feel uneasy.  You are advised to not be in the room if you are pregnant.

The patient will sit on a chair and a screen will be set up beside them.  They will then be given something to eat or drink.  What they are given will depend on the patient but it may be a biscuit, some yogurt, a piece of bread or a drink (you may have been asked to bring in some food your child finds easy and more difficult to eat).  Barium will be added to the food or drink, which will make the food show up on the x-ray machine.  Barium is white with a chalky taste and although it can mean the food doesn’t taste very nice, it is completely safe.  As the patient eats or drinks an x-ray machine will record the swallowing process.

 

What happens after?

The SALT and radiologist will discuss what they saw during the study and may give you recommendations straight away.  Alternatively, the SALT will review the tape and then meet with you to discuss the findings at a later date.  They should be able to tell you what foods and liquids are safest, and how to eat them.  They will also recommend if swallowing therapy is necessary.

 

Any procedure that your child has to go through can be difficult and distressing.  It can be difficult to take in all the information that you get given during consultations.  A therapist here at Integrated Treatment Services can take the time to explain procedures to you, answering any questions you might have.  We are happy to speak with you over the telephone on: 0845 838 2921 or by email info@integratedtreatments.co.uk.

 

If you have found this article helpful and have more questions then you can contact us with ideas for topics you would like us to cover in future blogs by simply clicking ‘Ask us a Question’.

Laura Oldakowska

Speech and Language Therapist

© SXC.hu: Image Credit: resident_a – CC Licensed

 


Related Content