[Experience with home visits for treatment of dysphagia (Clinical meaning of severity grading of dysphagia)].
It is more difficult to adequately manage dsyphagia patients at home than in the hospital. Based on the author's experience with home visits, grading the severity of dysphagia is advocated as helpful in reducing the difficulty. Both the clinical meaning and usefulness of severity grading are discussed. A diagnostic procedure designed by the author and ENT colleagues was applied to patients complaining of dysphagia at home. The procedure consists of three components, i.e., a questionnaire chart, endoscopic survey of the throat while swallowing and an assessment of the patient's general condition. Analysis of 24 cases revealed that the severity of dysphagia could be classified into four degrees, and that the the severity was helpful for determing the protocol of subsequent treatment. The part of the management of dysphagia at home in which the ENT physician can participate has been clarified.
Shiba Jibiinkoka, Kobe.
Yuko
Y
Shiba
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D004945:Esophagoscopy; D005260:Female; D005336:Fiber Optic Technology; D006792:House Calls; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index