Aspiration: the predictive value of some clinical and endoscopy signs. Evaluation of our case series.

Signs and symptoms obtained by clinical examination and endoscopic observations in consecutive subjects presenting at our Phoniatry and Logopedics Service from 1998 to 2003 for swallowing disorders were reviewed and evaluated statistically. The predictive power of these parameters is discussed in terms of short-term complications of dysphagia (aspiration). Epidemiological considerations are made based on a statistical model.