ABSTRACT
Objective To apply repetitive saliva swallowing test and standardized swallowing assessment combined with the volume-viscosity swallow test on patients with acquired brain injury, we aim to identify the potential risks of oral intake during the patients′recovery stage, and improve the strategy of aspiration prevention. Methods Totally 142 patients with acquired brain injury were selected as the observation group during November 2016 and November 2017, and 153 patients with acquired brain injury were selected as the control group during October 2015 and October 2016. The control group was assessed by water swallow test, while a combination of the Repetitive Saliva Swallowing Test, the Standardized Swallowing Assessment and Volume-Viscosity Swallow Test was used to assess the observation group till discharging. The detection rate of aspiration risk and the incidence of aspiration pneumonia was compared between the two groups. ResuLts The detection rate of aspiration risk was 36.6% (52/142) in the observation group and 7.8% (12/153) in the control group, the difference was statistically significant (χ2=35.899, P<0.05). The incidence of aspiration pneumonia was 1.4% (2/142) in the observation group and 12.4% (19/153) in the control group, the difference was statistically significant (χ2=13.502, P<0.05). ConcLusions The combined application of the Repetitive Saliva Swallowing Test, the Standardized Swallowing Assessment and the Volume-Viscosity Swallow Test can improve the detection rate of aspiration risk in the acquired- brain- injury patients with suspicious swallowing dysfunction, reduce the incidence of aspiration pneumonia, increase the nursing safety, and improve the health outcomes of neurosurgical patients.
ABSTRACT
Objective@#To apply repetitive saliva swallowing test and standardized swallowing assessment combined with the volume-viscosity swallow test on patients with acquired brain injury, we aim to identify the potential risks of oral intake during the patients′ recovery stage, and improve the strategy of aspiration prevention.@*Methods@#Totally 142 patients with acquired brain injury were selected as the observation group during November 2016 and November 2017, and 153 patients with acquired brain injury were selected as the control group during October 2015 and October 2016. The control group was assessed by water swallow test, while a combination of the Repetitive Saliva Swallowing Test, the Standardized Swallowing Assessment and Volume-Viscosity Swallow Test was used to assess the observation group till discharging. The detection rate of aspiration risk and the incidence of aspiration pneumonia was compared between the two groups.@*Results@#The detection rate of aspiration risk was 36.6% (52/142) in the observation group and 7.8% (12/153) in the control group, the difference was statistically significant (χ2=35.899, P < 0.05). The incidence of aspiration pneumonia was 1.4% (2/142) in the observation group and 12.4% (19/153) in the control group, the difference was statistically significant (χ2=13.502, P < 0.05).@*Conclusions@#The combined application of the Repetitive Saliva Swallowing Test, the Standardized Swallowing Assessment and the Volume-Viscosity Swallow Test can improve the detection rate of aspiration risk in the acquired-brain-injury patients with suspicious swallowing dysfunction, reduce the incidence of aspiration pneumonia, increase the nursing safety, and improve the health outcomes of neurosurgical patients.
ABSTRACT
There are many stroke patients who have eating and swallowing problems after stroke, especially in the acute phase. However, little is known about the relationship between lesion, hematoma volume and pattern of dysphagia in hemorrhagic stroke. Accordingly, we evaluated the clinical features of swallowing function in acute cerebral hemorrhage. Four hundred and forty-seven newly diagnosed acute cerebral hemorrhage patients including 183 putamen, 119 thalamus, 30 cerebellum, 25 brainstem, and 90 subcortical hemorrhages were studied. Patients were referred for bedside swallowing assessment (BSA) using the Repetitive Saliva Swallowing Test and the Modified Water Swallowing Test at initial evaluation. Additionally, videofluoroscopy was performed in 129 patients to determine their oral intake status. The type of diet and outcomes were assessed on discharge. As results, most patients with normal BSA were consuming a regular diet on discharge. However, the number of patients who consumed a regular meal amongst the 289 patients with abnormal BSA was very few. Two hundred ten patients were nutritionally managed using enteral feeding. Lesion site and hematoma volume were related to the BSA result and oral intake outcome at discharge. Eating and swallowing dysfunction is not rare in patients with acute cerebral hemorrhage. We therefore recommend that all patients with cerebral hemorrhage should undergo a swallowing assessment and management in the acute stage.