Effects of Bolus Size on Swallow Safety: A Systematic Review of External Evidence
EBP Briefs
Rizzo, K., Mong, L., et al. (2016).
EBP Briefs, 11(3), 1-12.
This systematic review investigates the effect of measured small sips on frequency of aspiration in individuals diagnosed with thin liquid aspiration.
Not stated
Not further specified
Published, peer-reviewed, English-language studies (not further specified)
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"Overall, the evidence gathered from the appraised studies generally supports the clinical hypothesis that a small bolus size (5 mL or smaller) decreases the risk of penetration or aspiration of liquids during swallowing events" (p. 4). However, small bolus size may not be effective for individuals with sensory deficits or difficulty generating pharyngeal pressure.
No pediatric-centered studies were found to fulfill inclusion and exclusion criteria, therefore, "the conclusions from this study should be cautiously interpreted when being applied to pediatric populations" (p. 4).
