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Reinstituting Oral Feeding in Tube‐Fed Adult Patients With Dysphagia
Author(s) -
Crary Michael A.,
Groher Michael E.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
nutrition in clinical practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.725
H-Index - 71
eISSN - 1941-2452
pISSN - 0884-5336
DOI - 10.1177/0115426506021006576
Subject(s) - medicine , dysphagia , swallowing , feeding tube , enteral administration , parenteral nutrition , rehabilitation , oropharyngeal dysphagia , intensive care medicine , stroke (engine) , airway , pediatrics , physical therapy , surgery , mechanical engineering , engineering
Feeding tubes are valuable assets in the rehabilitation of adult patients with dysphagia. Feeding tubes may be placed in response to perceived risks of airway compromise or insufficient nutrient intake. However, not all patients require long‐term enteral feeding. With intensive dysphagia therapy, many patients will experience resolving deficits or improvement in swallowing ability. These patients require an appropriate strategy to transition from tube to oral feeding. This article reviews some of the basic characteristics of dysphagia and identifies specific swallowing difficulties in 2 groups of patients who often benefit from temporary enteral feeding: stroke survivors and patients treated for head and neck cancer. Specific suggestions are offered for clinical strategies to reinstitute oral feeding in these groups of tube‐fed patients.