A computational fluid dynamics simulation of liquid swallowing by impaired pharyngeal motion: bolus pathway and pharyngeal residue

Abstract

Common practices to improve the ability to swallow include modifying physical properties of foods and changing the posture of patients. Here, we quantified the effects of the viscosity of a liquid bolus and patient posture on the bolus pathway and pharyngeal residue using a computational fluid dynamics simulation. We developed a computational model of an impaired pharyngeal motion with a low pharyngeal pressure and no pharyngeal adaptation. We varied viscosities from 0.002 to 1 Pa·s and postures from −15° to 30° (from nearly vertical to forward leaning). In the absence of pharyngeal adaptation, a honey-like liquid bolus caused pharyngeal residue, particularly in the case of forward-leaning postures. Although the bolus speed was different among viscosities, the final pathway was only slightly different. The shape, location, and tilting of the epiglottis effectively invited a bolus to two lateral pathways, suggesting a high robustness of the swallowing process. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Thickening agents are often used for patients with dysphagia. An increase in bolus viscosity not only reduces the risk of aspiration but also can cause a residual volume in the pharynx. Because information obtained from videofluoroscopic swallowing studies is only two-dimensional, measurement of pharyngeal residue is experimentally difficult. We successfully quantified the three-dimensional bolus pathway and the pharyngeal residual volume using computational modeling and simulation.