Overview

This information is about having a procedure called a videofluoroscopy to assess your swallowing.

A videofluoroscopy uses video to record an X-ray examination of your swallowing in detail. We ask you to chew and swallow different sorts of foods and drinks, depending on your difficulties.

The study lets us see:

• how you are currently managing with chewing and swallowing
• whether food or drink gets stuck in your mouth or throat, or goes down the wrong way (aspiration)
• how well different strategies work to help you swallow
• what exercises may help your swallowing to improve with time

This information explains:

• the benefits of the procedure
• the risks of the procedure
• how to prepare for the procedure
• what happens during the procedure
• what happens after the procedure

If you have any questions, please speak to a doctor, nurse or speech and language therapist caring for you.

Benefits of the procedure

The videofluoroscopy lets your speech and language therapist see what happens when you swallow. They may then be able to recommend things that can improve your swallowing, such as:

• exercises
• different positions for eating or drinking
• different types of food or drink that will make swallowing safer or easier

Risks of the procedure

When you have a videofluoroscopy, there is a risk that some of what we give you to eat or drink may go down the wrong way. We try to minimise this risk and the amount that we give you to swallow.

During the procedure, you are exposed to X-rays. They are a type of radiation called ionising radiation. A low dose of radiation is used and we minimise the amount that you are exposed to during the procedure.

Radiation can be harmful for an unborn baby. If you are or think that you might be pregnant, it is important to tell a member of your medical team before the procedure. We cannot do any procedure that involves radiation if you are pregnant.

We ask you to swallow food and drink mixed with contrast (a dye that shows on X-ray). Most of the contrast is not taken in by the body and eventually passes out of your body in your poo.

Contrast does not usually cause any problems but can sometimes result in diarrhoea (watery poo). If this continues, contact a GP or your hospital doctor.

Please tell us if you feel unwell during or after the procedure.

The liquid contrast that we use contains iodine and some people are allergic to this.

If you have previously had an allergic reaction to X-ray contrast, or have a known allergy to iodine, please tell your doctor. Otherwise, please contact the X-ray department on 020 7188 5526 for Guy's Hospital or 020 7188 5490 for St Thomas' Hospital.

Please tell your team if you have any specific food allergies. We also check this with you before the procedure.

Any other treatment options

There is no other procedure that:

• offers this amount of detailed information about your swallowing
• helps your speech and language therapist to treat your symptoms