ABSTRACT
Dysphagia can lead to multiple complications, increasing mortality and recurrence, and affecting the quality of life. Mendelsohn maneuver is a kind of physical therapy to improve the safety and effectiveness of swallowing. This paper introduced the origin of Mendelsohn maneuver, its physiological mechanism and clinical application. The potential risks and shortcomings of Mendelsohn maneuver were discussed, and a new solution was put forward.
ABSTRACT
A 63-year-old man visited outpatient clinic complaining of dysphagia due to left jugular foramen meningioma. The patient underwent conventional dysphagia rehabilitation programs but functional improvement was not enough. A videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) revealed decreased laryngeal elevation and a lot of residue in pyriform sinus and vallecula. We noticed that enhancing laryngeal elevation like mendelshon maneuver promotes functional compensation, so we developed a therapeutic band for promoting laryngeal elevation. In follow-up VFSS, swallowing function was improved on the band. Persistent dysphagia due to decreased laryngeal elevation is very common and this case showed the possibility of improvement of symptom using therapeutic band we devleoped with conventional dysphagia rehabilitation programs.