MEDIA RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 13, 2011

BGH Brings Swallow Test Home to Area Residents

Brockville—Thanks to the recent acquisition of new diagnostic imaging video equipment through the generosity of the Brockville and District Hospital Foundation, Brockville General Hospital (BGH) can now offer a swallow study previously not available in the Brockville area.

“The Video Fluoroscopy Swallow Study (VFSS) is considered the gold standard in aspiration identification when testing the function of the swallow,” explains Lynn Varma, Speech Language Pathologist at BGH. “Results of the study can be used to recommend appropriate and safe oral diets for patients with swallowing impairments, as well as identify strategies that can help improve the safety and ease of a person’s swallow.”

Impaired swallowing, or dysphasia, may occur because of a wide variety of conditions and is especially common in the elderly.  In some cases, people that have had a stroke, cancer, degenerative neurological diseases, head injury, surgery involving the brain or Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) may experience difficulty swallowing following the event or treatment. Swallowing disorders may result in dehydration, weight loss, aspiration pneumonia, or in the worst cases, airway obstruction potentially leading to loss of life. 

The recent addition of this video equipment designed to interface with the existing BGH Diagnostic Imaging fluoroscope now gives the capability to assess the swallow under fluoroscopy with video imaging for both the BGH Radiologist and the Speech Language Pathologist. With the new equipment, more images are taken during the test—up to 30 frames per second as opposed to 15 with the old system.

“This equipment allows a Speech Language Pathologist to view a video display of the test in real time,” explains Deb Wilson, BGH Manager of Diagnostic Imaging, “and sends the images to be saved to DVD for the pathologist to analyze after the examination. It also brings our system in line with the current requirements of the College of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists of Ontario.”

Previously, patients in Brockville and the surrounding area requiring a VFSS had to travel to larger centres in Kingston and Ottawa, creating issues for patients unable to travel. Wait times often left patients at risk of maintaining a dangerous diet and continuing with unidentified swallowing issues for months before they were seen.  

“Now,” smiles Wilson, “the test is available right here, and usually within a couple of weeks.”

For more information, please contact:

Joan McLaughlin Executive Director Brockville and District Hospital Foundation 613-345-4478 mcljo@bgh-on.ca

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