Dysphagia

Therapeutic Management

Encouraging Adequate Nutritional Intake

-Assess patient’s intake of nutrients

-Obtain baseline weight and daily weight.

-Patient encouraged to eat slowly and to chew all food thoroughly

(So food can easily pass the stomach)

-Recommend small frequent feeding of non-irritating foods

(To promote digestion and prevent tissue irritation)

-Prepare food in an appealing manner

(stimulates appetite)

-Ask patient to avoid tobacco and alcohol

(Tobacco and alcohol are irritants)

Decreasing Risk of Aspiration

-Position patient in semi-fowler

-Patient can be instructed the use of oral suction

Relieving Pain
-recommend small frequent feeding

-Advice patient to avoid any activities that increases pain

-Remain upright for 1 to 4 hours after each meal.

-Head of the bed should be placed on 4 to 8 inches (10-20 cm) blocks

-Discourage eating before bed time

-Advise patient that excessive use of OTC antacids

(can cause rebound acidity.)

-Histamine2 antagonists are administer

(to decrease gastric irritation)