Effect of Pulse Rate on Judgments of Airway Compromise Events During Infant Modified Barium Swallow Studies

Purpose: This research project sought to determine the effect of pulse rate on judgments of moderate to severe airway compromise events during infant MBSS. Method: This retrospective analysis investigated potential differences in Penetration Aspiration Scale (PAS) scores for swallows viewed at three different simulated pulse rate conditions by providing video files for review that featured 30 images per second (ips), 15 ips, and 7.5 ips. Analysts who were trained to achieve high consensus scored 20 different infant swallows recorded during MBSS at each of the simulated pulse rate conditions using the PAS. Result: Significant differences in PAS scores were found between infant MBSS reviewed at 30 pps and simulated 7.5 pps, with scores lower at simulated 7.5 pps, indicating analysts perceived less severe airway compromise events during the infant MBSS reviewed at lower pulse rates. Conclusion: The results from this research study indicate that the accurate identification of airway compromise events is affected by the pulse rate applied during the infant MBSS.