ORIGINAL ARTICLES   

Minerva Gastroenterologica e Dietologica 2001 September;47(3):97-102

Copyright © 2001 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: Italian

Management of oropharyngeal dysphagia: outcomes in a group of 81 adult patients

Schindler A., Manassero A., Tiddia C., Grosso E., Ottaviani F., Schindler O.

Background. Aim of the study is to assess outcomes in the management of 81 patients with diagnosis of oropharyngeal dysphagia.
Methods. Design: retrospective study on the outcome of logopedic treatment. Setting: patients have been assessed and treated as in- and out-patients of the Azienda Ospedaliera «S. Giovanni Battista» of Turin. Patients: 81 patients, 37 female and 44 male, mean age of 61,3 years, with diagnosis of oropharyngeal dysphagia.
Intervention: phoniatric and logopedic assessment and management including: food consistency change, compensatory head posture, oropharyngeal muscle strengthen and pharyngeal sensibility stimulation. Survey: tube feeding, dietary adjustments, presence of aspiration or penetration and postural techniques utilization were used as outcome measures.
Results. The number of patients on tube feeding changed from 50 out of 81 before treatment to 36 out of 81 at discharge time. Subjects who couldn't take anything by mouth decreased from 55 to 9. The number of patients with aspiration or penetration changed respectively from 47 and 8 to 20 and 4. Postural techniques were used in 15 cases.
Conclusions. The data suggest that outcomes of oropharyngeal dysphagia rehabilitation are promising. The role of tube feeding and of food consistencies is of key importance in the management of deglutition disorders. All clinicians dealing with dysphagic patients should know the importance of food rheologic characteristics, the consequences of alimentation by nasogastric tube and percoutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy.