Dysphagia Evaluation and Care in the Hospital Setting: The Need for Protocolization

Dysphagia accounts for a small portion of hospital admissions but is associated with severe complications. This has been shown to result in longer hospital length of stay and increased risk of mortality with certain other diagnoses. Although there has been much research on causes and interventions f...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Otolaryngology-head and neck surgery 2011-12, Vol.145 (6), p.895-898
Main Author: Altman, Kenneth W.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Age Distribution
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Combined Modality Therapy
Critical Pathways
Deglutition Disorders - diagnosis
Deglutition Disorders - epidemiology
Deglutition Disorders - etiology
Early Diagnosis
Enteral Nutrition - methods
Evaluation Studies as Topic
Female
Hospital Mortality - trends
Hospitalization - statistics & numerical data
Humans
Incidence
Male
Middle Aged
Needs Assessment
Pneumonia, Aspiration - prevention & control
Practice Guidelines as Topic
Risk Assessment
Severity of Illness Index
United States
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Summary:Dysphagia accounts for a small portion of hospital admissions but is associated with severe complications. This has been shown to result in longer hospital length of stay and increased risk of mortality with certain other diagnoses. Although there has been much research on causes and interventions for dysphagia, there has been variable impact in actual hospital practice. Also, nonuniform approaches to evaluating patients, such as screening high-risk populations, makes it difficult to measure outcomes of care. This commentary advises a more systematic approach that includes standardized protocols, risk stratification, and screening high-risk patients; makes the case for broadening the classification of dysphagia; and suggests a growing role for adjunctive enteral nutrition in patients with some compromise to swallowing.
ISSN:0194-5998
1097-6817
DOI:10.1177/0194599811415803