Dysphagia is a potentially serious complication of stroke. The importance of assessing a patient’s ability to swallow, before approving the oral intake of fluids, food or medication, has been noted in multiple practice guidelines including the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Post-Stroke Rehabilitation guideline. It has been estimated that 27-50% of stroke patients develop dysphagia. Furthermore, 43-54% of stroke patients with dysphagia will experience aspiration and of those patients 37% will develop pneumonia. Dysphagia may contribute to malnutrition and increased length of hospital stay. Most guidelines include a recommendation that all patients be screened for their ability to swallow and those with abnormal results be referred for a complete examination by a speech and language pathologist or other qualified individual. Recent evidence suggests that pneumonia rates in this population may be reduced when a systematic program of diagnosis and treatment of dysphagia is included in an ischemic stroke management plan.

Edit

• American Academy of Neurology
• The Official Journal of the American Academy of Neurology
• National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Edit

• ECRI Investigators. Diagnosis and treatment of swallowing disorders (dysphagia) in acute-care stroke. Agency for Health Care Policy and Research. Evidence Report/Technology Assessment: Number 8. 1999.

Edit