An analysis of studies comparing electrical impedance tomography with X-ray videofluoroscopy in the assessment of swallowing

Electrical impedance tomography can be used to record the conductivity change occurring in the neck during a swallow. X-ray videofluoroscopy provides excellent anatomical detail of the structures involved in swallowing and of the position of the swallowed bolus. The two techniques have been performed simultaneously on seven patients with swallowing problems to establish what produces the peak change in conductivity when a solution of low conductivity is swallowed. The results suggest that the exclusion of air from the larynx and pharynx is the major factor influencing the change in conductivity when a solution of low conductivity is swallowed.