Hypersalivation: Update of the German S2k Guideline (AWMF) in Short Form
Journal of Neural Transmission
Steffen, A., Jost, W., et al. (2019).
Journal of Neural Transmission, 126(7), 853-862.
This is a clinical practice guideline providing recommendations on the management of hypersalivation, also known as sialorrhoea.
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Hals-NasenOhren-Heilkunde, Kopf- und Hals-Chirurgie e. V (Germany)
"In the phase of reduced saliva production, therapeutic swallowing exercises should be accelerated where there is dysphagia.... More intensive exercises can be performed which were previously not possible due to the increased risk of aspiration and the amount of saliva" (p. 859).
<div>A multidisciplinary assessment should be conducted</div>
<ul>
<li>at an early stage to determine underlying disease and the pathophysiology of hypersalivation (i.e., sialorrhea); </li>
<li>if there is no response to the selected therapy approach; and/or </li>
<li>if there was a change in the underlying disease.</li>
</ul>
Functional dysphagia therapy can be used if hypersalivation is caused by the inability to swallow saliva due to dysphagia. "Technically supported therapy methods can be used as a supplement to classical dysphagia therapy, e.g. biofeedback methods (surface electromyography, surface electromyography sEMG) and neuromuscular electrostimulation (NMES)" (p. 856).
