Neurogastroenterology and motility : the official journal of the European Gastrointestinal Motility Society
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Neurogastroenterol. Motil. · Mar 2006
Oropharyngeal dysphagia after the acute phase of stroke: predictors of aspiration.
Oropharyngeal dysphagia is frequent during the acute phase of stroke, but most patients recover. Dysphagia is related to higher incidence of aspiration, pneumonia and death. Frequently neither clinical history nor neurological evaluation predicts the presence of aspiration. ⋯ Silent aspirations were more frequent in patients with previous orotracheal intubation (P<0.05) and abnormalities in velopharyngeal reflexes (P<0.05). We concluded that in patients not recovered from severe stroke after the acute phase and with suspected oropharyngeal dysphagia, clinical evaluation is of scant use in predicting aspiration and silent aspiration. Videofluoroscopic examination is mandatory in these patients.