Use of Textured Thin Liquids in Patients With Dysphagia

The goals of this article are to explore the use of textured thin liquids for dysphagic patients who require thickened liquids and to illustrate their impact on hydration and patient satisfaction.

A retrospective evaluation of textured thin liquids was completed using patient data looking at laboratory values relevant to the detection of dehydration (blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, sodium) and patient satisfaction (using a clinician-generated questionnaire) on different modified liquid textures. In addition, the viscosity for all liquids was tested using a rheometer.

Measurements show that the viscosity of the textured thin liquids examined in this pilot study are significantly lower than the viscosity of nectar-thick liquids and fall within the "thin" category as defined by the National Dysphagia Diet guidelines. Patients on honey- and nectar-thick liquids had laboratory values signifying dehydration, whereas those receiving the textured thin liquid consistency were within the normal range for all laboratory values. Importantly, when consuming textured thin liquids, patients reported significant improvement in their satisfaction related to their thirst.

The results of this pilot study highlight the consequences of common thickened liquid dietary recommendations and of the potentially beneficial clinical application of textured thin liquids for patients with dysphagia as well as the need for future prospective research.