title: Characteristics of dysphagia in elderly patients requiring mechanical ventilation.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to describe the swallowing characteristics of elderly patients requiring mechanical ventilation with tracheostomy admitted to a long-term, acute-care hospital. The study was conducted through retrospective record review of patients on mechanical ventilation who had received a Modified Barium Swallow Study (MBSS) during their hospitalization. In a period from 1994 to 2002, 58 patients met the inclusion criteria. The study examined the results of both the clinical and the MBSS evaluations and compared the results and recommendations of the two examinations. Data were obtained from the MBSS records to describe the group in terms of dysphagia symptoms, frequency and occurrence of aspiration, respiratory status, and demographic variables. Parametric and nonparametric statistics were used to determine differences between the evaluations and any significant associations between aspiration and demographic variables, pharyngeal symptoms, and cognitive deficits. Significant differences were found between diet recommendations before and after the MBSS, and significant associations were found between aspiration and three pharyngeal symptoms. Although aspiration and especially silent aspiration occurred frequently in this group, most individuals were able to begin some level of oral intake after the MBSS evaluation. Due to the lack of reliable clinical evaluation measures, the MBSS is necessary for differential diagnosis of dysphagia and dietary recommendations for these individuals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Communication Disorders, University of Tulsa, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74104, USA. lori-davis@utulsa.edu
authors.forename: Lori A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Thompson Stanton
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015897:Comorbidity; D003679:Deglutition; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011015:Pneumonia, Aspiration / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014139:Tracheostomy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data