Dysphagia Management in Acute and Sub-acute Stroke

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Gastroenterology
• Speech-Language Pathology

Background:

• Swallowing dysfunction (dysphagia) is a frequent complication following stroke, impacting over 50% of survivors.
• Approximately 80,000 individuals experience persistent dysphagia six months post-stroke.
• The underlying physiological impairments leading to post-stroke dysphagia are diverse.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review established and emerging treatments for post-stroke dysphagia.
• To correlate dysphagia treatments with the specific physiological impairments they address.

Main Methods:

• Literature review focusing on well-established dysphagia therapies.
• Discussion of traditional interventions including compensatory strategies and exercises.
• Inclusion of recent treatment modalities based on available evidence.

Main Results:

• Detailed discussion of traditional dysphagia therapies.
• Explanation of strategies like chin tuck, head turn, and effortful swallow.
• Overview of exercises such as the Shaker exercise and Masako maneuver.

Conclusions:

• Established dysphagia treatments effectively target specific physiological impairments.
• Emerging interventions offer potential advancements in managing post-stroke swallowing difficulties.
• Evidence-based treatment selection is crucial for optimizing outcomes in dysphagia management.