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Saudi Medical Journal Jul 2023Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is an atopic disease in which eosinophils infiltrate the esophageal mucosa and may result in a variety of upper gastrointestinal symptoms.... (Review)
Review
Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is an atopic disease in which eosinophils infiltrate the esophageal mucosa and may result in a variety of upper gastrointestinal symptoms. Chief among these are dysphagia, heartburn, and food bolus obstruction in adults whereas children often present with abdominal pain or vomiting. Eosinophilic esophagitis is a chronic condition that if not detected and left untreated could lead to the development of subepithelial fibrosis and esophageal stenosis. The diagnosis of EoE is confirmed in a patient presenting with characteristic EoE symptoms, classic signs on endoscopy, and biopsy results showing >15 eosinophils/hpf. A number of useful treatments against EoE are currently available with new therapeutics on the horizon. The former include PPIs, topical steroids, and elimination diet; the latter comprise novel biologics including the monoclonal antibody dupilumab. All these treatments can improve symptoms and reduce esophageal eosinophil count. This brief introductory review describes the detection, diagnosis, and management of EoE.
Topics: Adult; Child; Humans; Eosinophilic Esophagitis; Deglutition Disorders; Endoscopy
PubMed: 37463709
DOI: 10.15537/smj.2023.44.7.20220812 -
JPMA. the Journal of the Pakistan... Aug 2023Dysphagia is a medical condition that makes it difficult for a person to eat or swallow. It is estimated that 590 million people worldwide have dysphagia. The causes are... (Review)
Review
Dysphagia is a medical condition that makes it difficult for a person to eat or swallow. It is estimated that 590 million people worldwide have dysphagia. The causes are varied and include neurological disorders like stroke and motor neuron disease, head and neck cancer, neuromuscular diseases, inflammatory diseases such as dermatomyositis, dementia, cervical spinal cord injury, and anterior vertebral ossification. The assessment and screening of dysphagia consists of a questionnaire-based interview, mealtime observation, and, if deemed necessary by a screening test or instrumental examination by specialists. Treatment is based on the diagnosis, patients' cognition and information gathered by screening and clinical evaluation. Patient's function can be improved only when treatment is comprehensive and includes compensatory feeding using an adjusted swallowing diet, compensatory posture adjustment, and nutritional improvement. We present a brief overview of the assessment and management strategies for dysphagia.
Topics: Humans; Cognition; Deglutition; Deglutition Disorders; Medicine; Posture
PubMed: 37697781
DOI: 10.47391/JPMA.23-61 -
Annals of Rehabilitation Medicine Jul 2023Dysphagia is a common clinical condition characterized by difficulty in swallowing. It is sub-classified into oropharyngeal dysphagia, which refers to problems in the...
OBJECTIVE
Dysphagia is a common clinical condition characterized by difficulty in swallowing. It is sub-classified into oropharyngeal dysphagia, which refers to problems in the mouth and pharynx, and esophageal dysphagia, which refers to problems in the esophageal body and esophagogastric junction. Dysphagia can have a significant negative impact one's physical health and quality of life as its severity increases. Therefore, proper assessment and management of dysphagia are critical for improving swallowing function and preventing complications. Thus a guideline was developed to provide evidence-based recommendations for assessment and management in patients with dysphagia.
METHODS
Nineteen key questions on dysphagia were developed. These questions dealt with various aspects of problems related to dysphagia, including assessment, management, and complications. A literature search for relevant articles was conducted using Pubmed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and one domestic database of KoreaMed, until April 2021. The level of evidence and recommendation grade were established according to the Grading of Recommendation Assessment, Development and Evaluation methodology.
RESULTS
Early screening and assessment of videofluoroscopic swallowing were recommended for assessing the presence of dysphagia. Therapeutic methods, such as tongue and pharyngeal muscle strengthening exercises and neuromuscular electrical stimulation with swallowing therapy, were effective in improving swallowing function and quality of life in patients with dysphagia. Nutritional intervention and an oral care program were also recommended.
CONCLUSION
This guideline presents recommendations for the assessment and management of patients with oropharyngeal dysphagia, including rehabilitative strategies.
PubMed: 37501570
DOI: 10.5535/arm.23069 -
Journal of Critical Care Feb 2024Dysphagia is common in intensive care unit (ICU) patients, yet it remains underrecognized and often unmanaged despite being associated with life-threatening... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Dysphagia is common in intensive care unit (ICU) patients, yet it remains underrecognized and often unmanaged despite being associated with life-threatening complications, prolonged ICU stays and hospitalization.
PURPOSE
To propose an expert opinion for the diagnosis and management of dysphagia developed from evidence-based clinical recommendations and practitioner insights.
METHODS
A multinational group of dysphagia and critical care experts conducted a literature review using a modified ACCORD methodology. Based on a fusion of the available evidence and the panel's clinical experience, an expert opinion on best practice management was developed.
RESULTS
The panel recommends adopting clinical algorithms intended to promote standardized, high-quality care that triggers timely systematic dysphagia screening, assessment, and treatment of extubated and tracheostomized patients in the ICU.
CONCLUSIONS
Given the lack of robust scientific evidence, two clinical management algorithms are proposed for use by multidisciplinary teams to improve early systematic detection and effective management of dysphagia in ICU patients. Additionally, emerging therapeutic options such as neurostimulation have the potential to improve the quality of ICU dysphagia care.
Topics: Humans; Deglutition Disorders; Expert Testimony; Critical Care; Mass Screening; Intensive Care Units
PubMed: 37924574
DOI: 10.1016/j.jcrc.2023.154447 -
Critical Care (London, England) Jul 2023The resumption of oral feeding and free from pneumonia are important therapeutic goals for critically ill patients who have been successfully extubated after prolonged... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
Effects of a swallowing and oral-care program on resuming oral feeding and reducing pneumonia in patients following endotracheal extubation: a randomized, open-label, controlled trial.
BACKGROUND
The resumption of oral feeding and free from pneumonia are important therapeutic goals for critically ill patients who have been successfully extubated after prolonged (≥ 48 h) endotracheal intubation. We aimed to examine whether a swallowing and oral-care (SOC) program provided to critically ill patients extubated from prolonged mechanical ventilation improves their oral-feeding resumption and reduces 30-day pneumonia incidence.
METHODS
In this randomized, open-label, controlled trial, participants were consecutively enrolled and randomized to receive the SOC program or usual care. The interventions comprised three protocols: oral-motor exercise, sensory stimulation and lubrication, and safe-swallowing education. Beginning on the day following patient extubation, an SOC nurse provided the three-protocol care for seven consecutive days or until death or hospital discharge. With independent outcome assessors, oral-feeding resumption (yes, no) corresponded to level 6 or level 7 on the Functional Oral Intake Scale (censored seven days postextubation) along with radiographically documented pneumonia (yes, no; censored 30 days postextubation), abstracted from participants' electronic medical records were coded.
RESULTS
We analyzed 145 randomized participants (SOC group = 72, control group = 73). The SOC group received, on average, 6.2 days of intervention (14.8 min daily) with no reported adverse events. By day 7, 37/72 (51.4%) of the SOC participants had resumed oral feeding vs. 24/73 (32.9%) of the control participants. Pneumonia occurred in 11/72 (15.3%) of the SOC participants and in 26/73 (35.6%) of the control participants. Independent of age and intubation longer than 6 days, SOC participants were likelier than their control counterparts to resume oral feeding (adjusted hazard ratio, 2.35; 95% CI 1.38-4.01) and had lower odds of developing pneumonia (adjusted odds ratio, 0.28; 95% CI 0.12-0.65).
CONCLUSIONS
The SOC program effectively improved patients' odds that oral feeding would resume and the 30-day pneumonia incidence would decline. The program might advance dysphagia care provided to critically ill patients extubated from prolonged mechanical ventilation.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
NCT03284892, registered on September 15, 2017.
Topics: Humans; Deglutition; Airway Extubation; Critical Illness; Deglutition Disorders; Pneumonia
PubMed: 37438759
DOI: 10.1186/s13054-023-04568-6 -
The British Journal of Radiology Sep 2023The pharynx plays a significant role in swallowing and speech, and this is reflected in both its complex anatomy and degree of physiological motility. Patients who... (Review)
Review
The pharynx plays a significant role in swallowing and speech, and this is reflected in both its complex anatomy and degree of physiological motility. Patients who present with pharynx-related symptoms such as sore throat, globus, dysphagia or dysphonia will usually undergo visual and nasal endoscopic examination in the first instance. Imaging is frequently required to supplement clinical assessment and this typically involves MRI and CT. However, fluoroscopy, ultrasound and radionuclide imaging are valuable in certain clinical situations. The aforementioned complexity of the pharynx and the myriad of pathologies which may arise within it often make radiological evaluation challenging. In this pictorial review, we aim to provide a brief overview of cross-sectional pharyngeal anatomy and present the radiological features of a variety of pharyngeal pathologies, both benign and malignant.
Topics: Humans; Pharynx; Cross-Sectional Studies; Deglutition Disorders; Deglutition; Fluoroscopy
PubMed: 37334795
DOI: 10.1259/bjr.20230046 -
CMAJ : Canadian Medical Association... Jul 2023
Topics: Humans; Deglutition Disorders; Chest Pain; Thorax
PubMed: 37487618
DOI: 10.1503/cmaj.221673-f