Management of Aspiration Risk in Stroke

Managing risk for aspiration in the stroke patient will assist to decrease one of the major complications that these patients experience, which is poststroke pneumonia. Using an evidenced-based dysphagia protocol is shown to reduce mortality, morbidity, and length of stay caused by poststroke pneumonia. Physicians, nurses, speech pathologists, and dieticians will be instrumental in performing ongoing assessments and aspiration-prevention strategies to improve stroke patient outcome and reduce complications. Education, and measurement of comprehension, of the care team, patient, and family concerning dysphagia management and prevention of aspiration pneumonia will assist in achieving the aforementioned goals.