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Updated: Jul 8, 2026

Adapting Human Videofluoroscopic Swallow Study Methods to Detect and Characterize Dysphagia in Murine Disease Models
Published on: March 1, 2015
Managing the patient with dysphagia
1Visiting Nurse Association Health Services, Port Huron, Michigan 48060, USA. abrady@vnabwh.com
Abstract:
Dysphagia, or difficulty swallowing, is a common medical condition among today's patients. It is estimated the approximately 15% of individuals older than 60 years experience dysphagia. Approximately 40% of institutionalized patients (i.e., patients residing in nursing homes, group homes, or assistive care facilities) have swallowing difficulties (Zagaria 2005). The swallowing mechanism is quite complex, involving more than 50 pairs of muscles. Impairment of any one or more of these muscles may result in a serious health risk to the patient. The patient may be at risk of aspirating food or saliva into the lungs, creating a potentially life-threatening medical condition.
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