The Importance of Looking at the REST of the Swallow in Patients With Head and Neck Cancer

Abstract

Purpose: The swallowing continuum is highly complex and interrelated and has both upstream and downstream implications for volitional swallowing behaviors, anatomic and physiologic impairments, and interventions. Pathologic reflux can cause a plethora of upstream anatomic and physiologic changes in the swallow with associated consequences. Although pathologic reflux can occur in isolation, there is a high incidence of both pathologic reflux and esophageal pathology in patients with head and neck cancer. Along with their known oropharyngeal dysfunction that can evolve over time posttreatment and cause downstream effects in the swallowing continuum, pathologic reflux and esophageal pathology can cause upstream effects, further complicating the interplay and contributing to the overall swallowing impairment. Conclusions: The entire swallowing continuum should be evaluated with videofluoroscopy at yearly intervals in patients with head and neck cancer so that the multidisciplinary dysphagia team understands the interplay, which informs best interventions. The Robust Esophageal Screening Test (REST) is a standardized, validated esophageal screening protocol that can be implemented during the videofluoroscopic swallowing study to better identify potential esophageal pathology, which can be of complex etiology in this population. Results of a recent quality improvement project implementing REST protocol with patients with head and neck cancer found significant esophageal pathology and enhanced team collaborations and decision making for optimal patient care (Gregor & Watts, 2022).