Trial Outcomes & Findings for Use of the Passy Muir Swallowing Self Trainer (NCT NCT02848664)

NCT ID: NCT02848664

Last Updated: 2019-03-11

Results Overview

An ordinal scale of 7 levels of severity of swallowing disorder with 1 being the lowest level and 7 being the highest level. Level 1 is Severe dysphagia Nothing per oral and unable to tolerate any per oral liquid/substance safely. Level 2 is Moderately severe dysphagia, requires maximum assistance or use of strategies with partial per oral only, tolerates at least one consistency safely with total use of strategies. Level 3 is Moderate Dysphagia, requires total assist, supervision, or strategies with two or more consistencies restricted. Level 4 is Mild-moderate Dysphagia, Requires intermittent supervision/cueing, one or two consistencies restricted level 5 is Mild dysphagia: requires distant supervision may need one diet consistency restricted Level 6 Within functional limits, modified independence Level 7 Normal in all situations

Recruitment status

COMPLETED

Target enrollment

11 participants

Primary outcome timeframe

From before onset of device use to return 3 months later

Results posted on

2019-03-11

Participant Flow

Potential patient participants were recruited from patients who had previously participated in protocol on The Passy Muir Swallowing Self Training Device, Voice and Swallowing Clinics, community hospitals, announcements in websites of patient support groups, and contacts with speech language pathologists specializing in dysphagia.

Exclusion of those with psychiatric, epilepsy, severe speech/language communication disorders, cognitive impairment, esophageal disorders, and inability to tolerate a nasal endoscopic examination. Inclusion criteria: 13 years or older, parental consent if under 18, stable medical condition and oropharyngeal dysphagia.

Participant milestones

Participant milestones
Measure
Laryngeal Vibrotactile Stimulation
Participants with dysphagia received an external laryngeal vibratory stimulation device, The Passy Muir Swallowing Self Trainer, to assist with swallowing retraining. Participants and their caregivers received training to criterion on how to use the device and were then given a device to take home for 3 months for daily use in swallowing training and for saliva swallowing throughout the day. They were asked to use the device for a minimum of 60 practice trials of swallowing their own and to wear the device to assist with saliva swallowing. All participants were evaluated on their swallowing using modified barium swallow examination and patient questionnaires immediately before device training and on return 3 months later. They also completed questionnaires on the device characteristics on return.
Overall Study
STARTED
11
Overall Study
COMPLETED
7
Overall Study
NOT COMPLETED
4

Reasons for withdrawal

Reasons for withdrawal
Measure
Laryngeal Vibrotactile Stimulation
Participants with dysphagia received an external laryngeal vibratory stimulation device, The Passy Muir Swallowing Self Trainer, to assist with swallowing retraining. Participants and their caregivers received training to criterion on how to use the device and were then given a device to take home for 3 months for daily use in swallowing training and for saliva swallowing throughout the day. They were asked to use the device for a minimum of 60 practice trials of swallowing their own and to wear the device to assist with saliva swallowing. All participants were evaluated on their swallowing using modified barium swallow examination and patient questionnaires immediately before device training and on return 3 months later. They also completed questionnaires on the device characteristics on return.
Overall Study
Withdrawal by Subject
2
Overall Study
Adverse Event
1
Overall Study
no assistance for device training
1

Baseline Characteristics

Use of the Passy Muir Swallowing Self Trainer

Baseline characteristics by cohort

Baseline characteristics by cohort
Measure
Laryngeal Vibrotactile Stimulation
n=7 Participants
Participants with dysphagia received external laryngeal vibrotactile stimulation to trigger swallowing for swallowing retraining. Participants received training on the device and were then given a device to take home for 3 months. Passy Muir Swallowing Self Trainer: External vibratory stimulation to the larynx to trigger swallow reflex in patients with dysphagia
Age, Continuous
56.4 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 20.1 • n=99 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
2 Participants
n=99 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
5 Participants
n=99 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
0 Participants
n=99 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
0 Participants
n=99 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
0 Participants
n=99 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
1 Participants
n=99 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
6 Participants
n=99 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
More than one race
0 Participants
n=99 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants
n=99 Participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
7 participants
n=99 Participants
Functional Oral Intake Scale
1-Severe
6 Participants
n=99 Participants
Functional Oral Intake Scale
2-Moderate/Severe
1 Participants
n=99 Participants
Functional Oral Intake Scale
3-Moderate
0 Participants
n=99 Participants

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: From before onset of device use to return 3 months later

Population: Patients with Severe/Moderate to Severe dysphagia, chronic for more than 6 months, nutrition is by enteric means, may be able to ingest one consistencies with supervision

An ordinal scale of 7 levels of severity of swallowing disorder with 1 being the lowest level and 7 being the highest level. Level 1 is Severe dysphagia Nothing per oral and unable to tolerate any per oral liquid/substance safely. Level 2 is Moderately severe dysphagia, requires maximum assistance or use of strategies with partial per oral only, tolerates at least one consistency safely with total use of strategies. Level 3 is Moderate Dysphagia, requires total assist, supervision, or strategies with two or more consistencies restricted. Level 4 is Mild-moderate Dysphagia, Requires intermittent supervision/cueing, one or two consistencies restricted level 5 is Mild dysphagia: requires distant supervision may need one diet consistency restricted Level 6 Within functional limits, modified independence Level 7 Normal in all situations

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Laryngeal Vibrotactile Stimulation
n=7 Participants
Participants with dysphagia received external laryngeal vibrotactile stimulation to trigger swallowing for swallowing retraining. Participants received training on the device and were then given a device to take home for 3 months. Passy Muir Swallowing Self Trainer: External vibratory stimulation to the larynx to trigger swallow reflex in patients with dysphagia
After Device Use for 3 Months
After vibrotactile device over 3 months at home for practicing swallowing and to manage salivary flow by swallowing during waking hours
Change in Dysphagia Outcome and Severity Scale (DOSS) Rating
No change on DOSS
5 Participants
Change in Dysphagia Outcome and Severity Scale (DOSS) Rating
Improvement on DOSS
2 Participants

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: From before onset of device use to return 3 months later

Total handicap Score from 0 (no Handicap) to 100 (Severe Handicap)

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Laryngeal Vibrotactile Stimulation
n=7 Participants
Participants with dysphagia received external laryngeal vibrotactile stimulation to trigger swallowing for swallowing retraining. Participants received training on the device and were then given a device to take home for 3 months. Passy Muir Swallowing Self Trainer: External vibratory stimulation to the larynx to trigger swallow reflex in patients with dysphagia
After Device Use for 3 Months
After vibrotactile device over 3 months at home for practicing swallowing and to manage salivary flow by swallowing during waking hours
Dysphagia Handicap Index (DHI)
Pre Device use DHI score
61.143 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 17.199
Dysphagia Handicap Index (DHI)
Post Use DHI Score
38.571 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 22.501

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: From before onset of device use to return 3 months later

Population: Only 5 patients were able to undergo a repeated modified barium swallow study after device use.

Calibrated kinematic measures from videofluoroscopic imaging during a modified barium swallow study. Computed the change in peak elevation in millimeters during swallowing from the rest position before swallowing for two structures: the larynx and the hyoid bone. The peak elevation of the two structures were compared by subtracting the hyoid peak elevation from the laryngeal peak elevation. If the measure was positive the larynx was elevated to a greater degree than the hyoid bone resulting in vestibule closure and airway protection during the swallow.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Laryngeal Vibrotactile Stimulation
n=5 Participants
Participants with dysphagia received external laryngeal vibrotactile stimulation to trigger swallowing for swallowing retraining. Participants received training on the device and were then given a device to take home for 3 months. Passy Muir Swallowing Self Trainer: External vibratory stimulation to the larynx to trigger swallow reflex in patients with dysphagia
After Device Use for 3 Months
After vibrotactile device over 3 months at home for practicing swallowing and to manage salivary flow by swallowing during waking hours
Laryngeal Elevation Relative to Hyoid Elevation for Vestibule Closure
5.525 millimeters
Standard Deviation 4.338

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: From before onset of device use to return 3 months later

Population: Same patients before and after device use

The level of cortical activation for swallowing was measured using near infra-red spectroscopy. Overall blood oxygenation level during swallowing was compared with the level during a non activation period prior to swallowing. To compute Z scores, the change in overall level between swallowing and prior to swallowing was divided by the standard deviation of the level prior to swallowing. The Z scores measured prior to and post device use for 3 months were compared.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Laryngeal Vibrotactile Stimulation
n=6 Participants
Participants with dysphagia received external laryngeal vibrotactile stimulation to trigger swallowing for swallowing retraining. Participants received training on the device and were then given a device to take home for 3 months. Passy Muir Swallowing Self Trainer: External vibratory stimulation to the larynx to trigger swallow reflex in patients with dysphagia
After Device Use for 3 Months
n=6 Participants
After vibrotactile device over 3 months at home for practicing swallowing and to manage salivary flow by swallowing during waking hours
Cortical Activation for Swallowing
18.042 Z score
Standard Error 17.391
70.822 Z score
Standard Error 20.912

Adverse Events

Laryngeal Vibrotactile Stimulation

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 3 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Serious adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Other adverse events

Other adverse events
Measure
Laryngeal Vibrotactile Stimulation
n=7 participants at risk
Patients using vibrotactile device over 3 months at home while practicing swallowing and to manage salivary by swallowing during waking hours
Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders
Increase in temperature for more than 3 days
42.9%
3/7 • Number of events 3 • 3 months
Severe Adverse Event: Diagnosis of Aspiration Pneumonia

Additional Information

Dr. Erin Kamarunas

James Madison University

Phone: 540-568-8846

Results disclosure agreements

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