Visualizing the Esophagus During Modified Barium Swallow Studies: A Systematic Review

Purpose: Despite the emphasis on using evidence-based practice for patient care, as clinicians, we sometimes find that there is insufficient evidence to support our clinical practices. One example of this is the contentious inclusion of routine, standardized visualization of the esophagus during modified barium swallow studies (MBSSs). This review sought to investigate the evidence for inclusion of routine esophageal visualization during the MBSS, a practice that is supported by the long-established interrelationship between all aspects of the oral, pharyngeal, and esophageal swallowing continuum. Method: Searches were conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and CINAHL databases. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines were followed to identify articles that met prespecified inclusion and exclusion terms. Results: Five articles were included in this review, which identified that esophageal findings were present in 48.67% of those participants whose MBSS included esophageal visualization. Conclusion: This review supports a standardized, validated, reliable visualization protocol of the esophagus during the MBSS as a critical component to the accurate diagnosis and formulation of treatment recommendations for patients with swallowing disorders.

Automated summary

This review explored the importance of visualizing the esophagus during modified barium swallow studies and concluded that it is a critical component for accurate diagnosis and treatment recommendations for patients with swallowing disorders.